31 Jan 1976 – Series Four (7) – All Winners Final 1

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Lee Harding with backing group Monopoly.  Image © The Stage Media Company Limited

On this first All Winners Final of series four, as the producers had done in series three, there was a guest host.  Comedian Peter Price, who had made the second Viewers Winners Final of series three – won by Lenny Henry, took over the usual compere duties of Derek Hobson, who himself joined Mickie Most, Ted Ray and Martin Jackson on the judges panel.

  • Allan Mills (comedian) – show 4.3
  • Lee Harding (female vocalist) – show 4.6
  • Roger de Courcey (ventriloquist) – show 4.1
  • Joy Rose (female vocalist) – show 4.4
  • Johnnie ‘Goon’ Tweed (comedian) – show 4.4
  • Pat Mills (female comedian) – show 4.5
  • Easy Street (four-piece group) – show 4.2
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Guest host Peter Price in his newspaper print suit. Image: ATV broadcast

After his well-received debut presenting the show guest host, and former West Kirby choirboy, Peter Price claimed he “had a marvellous time” and was “aiming for the Palladium next.”  Peter, aged 30 at the time, was renowned for his flamboyant dress and among his four changes of costume on the show was his newspaper suit and a white leather cape edged in green snake-skin covered with Walt Disney characters.

Peter also appeared in his own box on TV quiz show Celebrity Squares the following week.

The winner of the show and the first act to book a place in the series four Grand Final was ventriloquist Roger de Courcey and his puppet Nookie Bear.

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Roger de Courcey with his bear Nookie won the judges over to book a Grand Final place. Image: ATV broadcast

After the win Nookie told the Junior Mirror (Daily Mirror) “We teddies were always a talented lot. But for me the lad on the left, Roger de Courcey, would never have been on  New Faces. Now I am taking him to the Palladium. If he keeps his mouth shut … I’ll see him all right.”

Female vocalist Joy Rose chose to perform the Eddie Holman hit Hey There Lonely Girl for her appearance in this first All Winners Final.

Lee Harding was again backed by the group Monopoly who would themselves make a further and their fourth appearance on the show in the first Viewers Winners Final on 28 February 1976.

The four-piece group Easy Street made a real effort for this show, albeit maybe a little tongue in cheek. Having been told by Lonnie Donegan that they were dressed like labourers when they won their heat (show 4.2) they spruced up their attire by hiring top hat and tails from Moss Bros. for their All Winners Final appearance.

Show Footage

Roger de Courcey

Archive: A copy is held by the BFI – Work – 570069

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