Before the days ofAustralian IdolandThe Voice, Aussies were obsessed with a very different music show: Young Talent Time.

The much-loved Aussie series beamed into lounge rooms from 1971 and 1988, and was hosted and co-produced by Johnny Young.

Throughout its 17 year run, the show helped kick-start the careers of talented Aussies Tina Arena, Dannii Minogue, Asher Keddie, and many more.

Listen to the trailer for Mamamia's latest season of Extraordinary Stories, all about Young Talent Time. Post continues after audio.

With Bobby Driessen's recent death in his sleep at just 56 years old, we take a look back at his contribution to the iconic Aussie show, as well as some of his other well-known cast mates and what they have done since theirYoung Talent Timedays.

Bobby Driessen

Fan favourite Bobby Driessen was a member of theYoung Talent Timecrew for four years between 1979 and 1983. The Netherlands born singer was known for performing duets with Tina Arena and was replaced by Beven Addinsall when he turned 16. After leaving the show, Driessen hostedCartoon Companyin 1985 with fellowYTTalumnus Karen Dunkerton.

At the time of his death, he reportedly lived in Sydney and continued to perform, but organisers of theYoung Talent Time50th anniversary show in 2021 said they "couldn't track him down", so he did not appear.

A tribute post on theYoung Talent TimeFacebook page read:

"All of us here at Young Talent Time, are incredibly saddened to hear the news of Bobby Driessen, one of our beloved team members, has passed away in his sleep. Only 56 years old, way too young to have left us. Bobby you will be sadly missed."

Addinsall also posted on Facebook after hearing of Driessen's sudden passing:

"In 1983, I joined Young Talent Time. The team member I replaced was Bobby Driessen.

"A uniquely talented, funny, and charismatic person. I'm so saddened to hear that Bobby has passed away in his sleep. He was only 56, and it has come as quite a shock. Vale Bobby Driessen. RIP."

Asher Keddie

These days, many of us will no doubt recognise Asher Keddie from her starring role in the hit TV series Offspring, which won her a Gold Logie for Most Popular Actress in 2013.

But long before she played Dr Nina Proudman, she was bursting onto your screens singing Irene Cara's 'Fame' onYoung Talent Timeat just nine years old.

Since then, she's starred in TV dramas such asLove My Way, The CryandPaperGiantsand most recently, the Amazon Prime seriesNine Perfect Strangers, alongside Nicole Kidman, Melissa McCarthy and Luke Evans.

Outside of acting, the 48-year-old is married to artist Vincent Fantauzzo, who she tied the knot to in 2014 following her divorce from musician and actor Jay Bowen.

In 2015, Keddie and Fantauzzo welcomed their son Valentino. Keddie is also a stepmother to Fantauzzo's son, Lucas, from a previous marriage.

Tina Arena

Tina Arena was the longest-serving cast member ofYoung Talent Time, appearing on the show from 1974 to 1983.

After leaving the show just before her 16th birthday, Arena went on to find success as one of Australia's highest-selling female artists.

Throughout her career, she's won seven ARIA Awards, made it into the ARIA Hall of Fame, sang 'The Flame’ at the Opening Ceremony of the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games and became the first Australian to be awarded the Knighthood of the French National Order Of Merit, for her contribution to French culture.

The 55-year-old is also the mother to her teenage son Gabriel, who she shares with her husband and French artist Vincent Mancini.

In 2017, Arena spoke to Mia Freedman on Mamamia's No Filterpodcast about her personal life, sharing that she suffered three miscarriages after the birth of Gabriel.

"I lost three [children] after Gab... but I’m no different to anyone else," she said.

"How many women lose children? All the time. Every second there is a child lost."

However, she explained that there was a time where she did feel "embarrassed" to speak publicly about her loss.

"I almost felt embarrassed to talk about it and selfish in a way," she said, adding that she thought it was a "First World problem".

"Like, 'You, Tina Arena, who do you think you are to talk about the loss of a child, you spoilt whatever'. But you know what? I'm a woman. I just feel comfortable in talking about those things because I know how uncomfortable people are talking about it."

Listen to Tina Arena's full interview with Mia Freedman on the No Filter podcast. Post continues below.

Dannii Minogue

Another Aussie music icon to come out ofYoung Talent Time,is of course, Dannii Minogue.

The now 51-year-old appeared on the show from 1982 to 1988, and has gone on to forge an incredibly successful career in music, film and television.

However, according to host John Young, she wasn't the strongest singer straight out of the gates.

"People like Dannii Minogue started as a nine-year-old, and she could barely sing," he told TV Tonight.

"But she was a gorgeous looking girl and a wonderful dancer, just absolutely terrific. But she learned the art of singing from Ross Burton and Greg Mills, who was the musical director."

Since then, she went on to star inHome and Away, release a series of hits like 'Love and Kisses' and 'All I Wanna Do', and been a judge onAustralia's Got Talent, The X Factor UK, andThe X Factor Australia.

These days, Minogue lives in Melbourne with her son Ethan, who she shares with her ex Kris Smith.