Lena Zavaroni Sings "Swinging on a Star" on Junior Showtime

Lena Zavaroni singing on Britains "Junior Showtime" programme

Junior Showtime was a British variety show for children made by Yorkshire Television and shown on ITV between 1969 and 1974.

Presented by Bobby Bennett, the show featured song and dance routines and was produced by Jess Yates. The show featured a number of performers who would go on to stardom in Britain including Pauline Quirke, Kathryn Apanowicz, Bonnie Langford, Mark Curry and Malandra Burrows of Emmerdale. The master tapes of the shows are no longer of broadcast quality due to various accidents and poor storage.

In a 2001 poll by Channel 4 to find the 100 Greatest Kids' TV shows Junior Showtime was voted a number 100.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Lena
• Zavaroni
• Junior
• Showtime
• Swinging
• on
• Star

[Soul3Ian]

only trouble is lene is no longer with us RIP lene

[LenaZavaroniFAN]

@Soul3Ian - LENA...not LENE

[amygurl63]

This really summed it all up. I recalled this show with Glyn Poole and Bobby Bennett, and even cringing then, as a child. I often imagined all the 'pushy' parents waiting in the wings, constantly thrusting their own children forward to make up for their own, sad failures. It really was a lousy show. For Lena Zavaroni, the instant fame became the true, poison chalice. She died before even reaching 36. Today we have 'the X Factor'. So, it seems no one has ever learned. Revolting!

[nailposh3]

what amazing talent.

[Kittielips]

@JekyllBoote

I totally agree with you.

Jennie.

[sparkledot545]

we are a singing this song in choir!

[woodster1965]

God,i haven't seen anything from this show since it was originally aired!!!...takes me back ,especially the opening titles.

[garnyan]

Dont forget Glyn Poole and his sisters and brothers ,,

Went to the primary school opposite YTV we where asked many a time to come to see Juinor Showtime if i remember right it was filmed at the Leeds City Varieties

[lexandsydwaytogo]

she is wonderful

r.i.p

[friscolobo]

Thank you for posting this. She was a great talent. Cute and what a great voice. Better than anyone who is singing now.

[JekyllBoote]

This makes for very uncomfortable viewing for a number of reasons.

First, there is the bizarre yellow bird sitting satanically among the young audience.

Second, there is the unbelievably camp young Glyn Poole (how did I fail to register this when I was about 11?).

But most disturbing is poor Lena herself. Her performance is that of a brilliantly gifted 40-year-old woman - Marti Caine, say - not a 10- or 11-year-old child. There is also a hint of the chubbiness that drove her to diet.

[MrChrisTRoss]

I was lucky enough to work on this show as a kid,along with Mark Curry,Lena,Bobby Bennett,Terry Divine,Billy Pearce and his wonderfull Mum......Great days !