New Faces

New Faces
Format	Talent Show
Starring	Derek Hobson (1973 - 1978) Marti Caine (1986 - 1988)
Country of origin	United Kingdom
Production
Producer(s)	ATV (1973 - 1978) Central (1986 - 1988)
Running time	60mins (inc. comms)
Broadcast
Original channel	ITV
Picture format	4:3
Original run	7 July 1973 – 3 December 1988

New Faces is a British television talent show popular in the 1970s and 1980s, presented originally by Derek Hobson. It was produced by ATV Network Limited for the ITV Network. The first run of the show was from 7 July 1973 to 2 April 1978 and was recorded at the ATV Centre, Birmingham. The show was noted for its theme tune, "You're a Star", performed by singer Carl Wayne, formerly of The Move, and it was eventually released, becoming a minor hit.

Winners often went on to greater success in television entertainment. Many top entertainers began their careers with a performance on this programme. The acts were evaluated by a panel of experts, including Mickie Most, Alan A. Freeman, Clive James, Muriel Young, Ted Ray, Ed Stewart, Arthur Askey, Noel Edmonds and Tony Hatch. Freeman and Hatch were especially notorious for being "hard" on contestants.

Tony Hatch made the headlines after one episode for giving a contestant whose act solely consisted of a repetitive and elementary 12 bar blues riff a score of zero. Hatch was deemed 'mean' for this.

Contestants received marks out of ten in categories such as "presentation", "content" and "star quality" - the "star quality" category was later replaced by "entertainment value". The most any act could be expected to get was 30 points. It was seen as a 'tougher' version of the long-running talent show Opportunity Knocks, also shown on ITV.

Whereas Oppportunity Knocks relied on public votes, New Faces had a panel that judged the acts - the act who had the highest total went through to the next round.

One winner, Marti Caine, returned to present the show when it was revived briefly in the 1980s by Central Television. Her catchphrase was bellowed at the voting studio audience: "Press your buttons... NOW!". The show also featured a panel of experts including the journalist Nina Myskow, who became famous for her often critical comments. In this incarnation the home audience decided who won by sending in postcards (phone voting was soon introduced by BBC rival Bob Says Opportunity Knocks), though the audience did vote for its favourite act using a gigantic lightboard known as Spaghetti Junction lighting up to a varying degree as they pushed their buttons.

Famous winners & contestants

• Marti Caine
• Lenny Henry - Multiple wins.
• Michael Barrymore
• Dave Allen - In the original BBC series.
• Joe Pasquale - 2nd in 1987. Joe won his heat but he came second in the final.
• Roy Walker
• The Chuckle Brothers (1974)
• Malandra Burrows (1974, youngest winner at 9 years old)
• Carline and Walling
• Victoria Wood
• Roger De Courcey and Nookie Bear - Winner of the 1976 Grand Final.
• Mick Miller
• Les Dennis
• Showaddywaddy
• Jim Davidson
• Gary Wilmot and Judy McPhee
• Billy Pearce
• Fivepenny Piece
• Aiden J Harvey
• Patti Boulaye - Appeared in the last 1970s edition of the show and was the only contestant ever to receive the maximum 120 points.
• Stevie Riks - Highest scoring contestant ever on the show.
• Max Bacon
• Andy Cameron
• Sheer Elegance - Pop trio who went on to have two hit singles in 1976.

Other winners & contestants

• Pete Price
• Dave Curtis (Vocalist)
• Son of a Gun
• Walker and Cadman
• Professor Steve Green (Pianist and Doctor)
• David Gold (Vocalist)
• Jimmy Tamley (beat Joe Pasquale)
• Crick's Canine Wonders
• Darren Stuart
• Frank Leyton
• Frank Yonco & Kit Connor
• RABBIT (Cabaret Band)

External links

• New Faces at UKGameshows.com
• Steve CassidySteve Cassidy 3 times winner at www.stevecassidy.co.uk