19 Apr 1975 – Series Three (31)

19750410_Gulliver
Liverpool based group Gulliver. Image © The Stage Media Company Limited

Heat 31 of series three once again saw Derek Hobson in the hosts chair and a judging panel of Mickie Most, Jimmy Henney, George Elrick and Martin Jackson.

The acts looking for a place in the next All Winners show were;

  • Dennis Jones (comedian / impressionist) from Bradford
  • Barbara Hermans (vocalist) from Sussex
  • Paul Leyton (harmonica player) from Liverpool
  • Coleridge Taylor (vocalist) from Belfast
  • Wheels (four-piece group) from Crewe
  • Gulliver (five-piece group) from Liverpool
  • The Honey Christian Duo (boy / girl vocal / instrumental duo) from Bradford
19740516_DennisJones
Dennis Jones comedy impressionist. Image © The Stage Media Company Limited

The winner of the heat was comedy impressionist Dennis Jones who booked his place in the All Winners Show on 3 May 1975.

Vocalist Barbara Hermans would be invited back on the show and appeared again on 28 June 1975.

Vocalist Coleridge Taylor is strongly believed to have appeared in this heat as many archive newspapers list the inclusion of the act.  Some archives suggest that Henry Ronan appeared, however, there is little evidence to support this appearance.

Belfast act Coleridge Taylor’s real name was Billy Hamilton, Coleridge was his mother’s maiden name which he decided to take to create his solo career stage name.  He was the one-time leader of the popular Strandsmen cabaret band but they split, due to the lack of a hit record. The split meant Billy parted ways with impersonator Maxton G. Beesley who was the father of future actor, Max Beesley, and who had also come so close to talent show success on Opportunity Knocks.

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Manchester based Honey Christian Duo were singer Honey Christian and guitarist Mike Gaughran. © Trinity Mirror North East

The Honey Christian Duo had been performing on the club circuit for over six years by the time of their appearance in this heat with archive listings detailing their appearance at The Embassy in Manchester in March 1969.

The duo who performed on the New Faces show were 23 year-old singer Honey Christian and guitarist Mike Gaughran.

Honey hailed from Eccles, Manchester and had success with her own show in Germany, toured South Africa twice and appeared on the Everley Brothers Show.

Crewe based cabaret group Wheels had not long returned from a tour of Germany when they appeared on this show. They formed in 1973 and had taken their act all over the UK before they made their debut television appearance. The groups members were Les Connor, Ricky Shaw, Roy Cooke and David Nixon.

Crewe group Wheels.
Image © The Stage Media Company Limited

4 thoughts on “19 Apr 1975 – Series Three (31)

  1. does anyone have a recording /copy of 19th April, videos were rare then and ,l turned down the offer of the video from the guy who got me on there ..great memories

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    1. Hi Barbara
      Lovely to hear from you, I hope you are well.
      Many New Faces shows were wiped by ATV and this show is one of many that is ‘missing’ from the archives.
      There is some footage from the show you made your second appearance on, but it is limited to just the performance of Helen Day & Catch.
      I am missing a judge from that second show so if you can help identify who that is then let me know.

      Like

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