1. Young Talent Time: Australia's Child Star Factory

Extraordinary Stories

Mamamia Podcasts

1. Young Talent Time: Australia's Child Star Factory

In 1971, Australian TV changed forever when a brand new show called 'Young Talent Time' burst onto screens in lounge rooms across the country. For 18 years, it held a place in the hearts of Australians at a time when family entertainment was king and "mullet" hairstyles reigned supreme. A unique mix of pop hits, flashy dance routines and wholesome performances by a team of talented children and teens catapulted the show into enormous success, and launched the careers of some of the country's biggest music exports including Tina Arena and Dannii Minogue.

We take a stroll through the past to discover how this TV-music juggernaut came to be one of the most loved shows ever made in Australia.

WITH THANKS TO:

John Young - Host and Executive Producer of Young Talent Time (1971-1988)

Vicki Thirlwell
Dannii Minogue
Tina Arena
Beven Addinsall
Joey Dee
Vince Deltito
Karen Knowles
Nicole Cooper
Debra Byrne
Meldi Arkinstall


SOURCES:

Archival footage courtesy of John Young


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CREDITS:
Host: Emma Gillespie
Written and Produced by Sydney Pead & Emma Gillespie, with Holly Wainwright
Audio Production: Madeline Joannou
Executive Producer: Sydney Pead


Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.