Tina Arena Fan mail and Asher Keddie: Young Talent Time, 1983

Young Talent Time fans are a dedicated bunch and this is a fine example of how the show consciously paid tribute to them and endeavoured to centre them in the show. 

It’s touching to see Tina Arena’s response to Dawn Miller’s biography of her.  

Australians watched ‘Tiny’ Tina grow up on the show. Now a global music superstar, she made her debut on the show’s talent quest segment singing ABBA's ‘Ring Ring’ in 1974 at the age of eight.

She joined the cast in 1977 and became the longest serving cast member. This clip was filmed in 1983 when Tina was about to graduate from the show. 

In another example of stars who got their start on Young Talent Time, actor Asher Keddie appears here as a young talent contestant.

She sings ‘Dr Love’, written by Biddu Appaiah and a Top 20 hit for disco artist Tina Charles in 1976. 

This excerpt is from episode 83/33 which was broadcast in August 1983. 

Notes by Beth Taylor