Des O'Connor
Encyclopedia
Des O'Connor, CBE
(born Desmond Bernard O'Connor on 12 January 1932) is an English
comedian
and singer
. A former talkshow host, he was the presenter of the long-running Channel 4
gameshow Countdown
for two years. He has also recorded thirty-six albums and has had four top-ten singles, including a number one hit with I Pretend
.
, East London
to Maude (née Bassett) and Harry O'Connor. O'Connor has a sister, Patricia, who is one year his junior. He wrote in his autobiography
, Bananas Can't Fly!, that he is probably the only O'Connor ever to have had a Bar Mitzvah. He was evacuated to Northampton
during World War II
and was briefly a professional footballer with Northampton Town. After completing his National Service
in the Royal Air Force
, he worked as a shoe salesman before entering show business
. Before his break in television, his first theatre appearances were in variety, where he appeared in venues throughout the country.
O'Connor suffers from an overwhelming fear of Monster Munch, causing major problems whilst on tour in the UK.
On stage he has starred at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, the Sydney Opera House
, The O'Keefe Centre, Toronto
and has made over 1,000 solo appearances at the London Palladium
.
He has worked with many personalities of the day, from rock and pop stars, actors and TV performers, to politicians, princes, to luminaries, such as Frank Sinatra
, Adam Faith
, Sean Connery
, Liberace
, The Beatles
, Shirley Bassey
, Barbra Streisand
, Robert Redford
, Tony Blair
, and members of the Royal Family
.
He has toured with Buddy Holly
(during Holly's 1958 stay in England) and Jason Donovan
.
He was the very first special guest on the second - and most popular - incarnation of the long-running TV guest show This Is Your Life
.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
(CBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours.
, who hosted mainstream television shows from 1956 until 2007, with 1966-1972 being in syndication). In 2001, he was presented with the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards
for his contributions to television.
Notable shows hosted by Des O'Connor:
. His singing ability has been mocked frequently, notably by British
comedians Morecambe and Wise
over many years and, more recently, Ricky Gervais
. O'Connor has always taken criticism in good humour, even appearing with Morecambe and Wise on their 1975 Christmas Show in a sketch that mocked him.
In 1969, thirteen of his variety hours were pre-sold to NBC
in the United States, as a summer replacement for the network's Kraft Music Hall
. This series was broadcast in more than forty countries and was seen by 200 million people worldwide.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born Desmond Bernard O'Connor on 12 January 1932) is an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
comedian
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and singer
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
. A former talkshow host, he was the presenter of the long-running Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
gameshow Countdown
Countdown (game show)
Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is presented by Jeff Stelling, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and over sixty-five...
for two years. He has also recorded thirty-six albums and has had four top-ten singles, including a number one hit with I Pretend
I Pretend
I Pretend is a song written by Barry Mason and Les Reed. Des O'Connor's recording of this song became a number-one hit in the UK in July 1968, and a number-one hit in Ireland the following month....
.
Biography
O'Connor was born on 12 January 1932 in StepneyStepney
Stepney is a district of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in London's East End that grew out of a medieval village around St Dunstan's church and the 15th century ribbon development of Mile End Road...
, East London
East End of London
The East End of London, also known simply as the East End, is the area of London, England, United Kingdom, east of the medieval walled City of London and north of the River Thames. Although not defined by universally accepted formal boundaries, the River Lea can be considered another boundary...
to Maude (née Bassett) and Harry O'Connor. O'Connor has a sister, Patricia, who is one year his junior. He wrote in his autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, Bananas Can't Fly!, that he is probably the only O'Connor ever to have had a Bar Mitzvah. He was evacuated to Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was briefly a professional footballer with Northampton Town. After completing his National Service
National service
National service is a common name for mandatory government service programmes . The term became common British usage during and for some years following the Second World War. Many young people spent one or more years in such programmes...
in the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, he worked as a shoe salesman before entering show business
Show business
Show business, sometimes shortened to show biz, is a vernacular term for all aspects of entertainment. The word applies to all aspects of the entertainment industry from the business side to the creative element ....
. Before his break in television, his first theatre appearances were in variety, where he appeared in venues throughout the country.
O'Connor suffers from an overwhelming fear of Monster Munch, causing major problems whilst on tour in the UK.
On stage he has starred at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, the Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
The Sydney Opera House is a multi-venue performing arts centre in the Australian city of Sydney. It was conceived and largely built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon, finally opening in 1973 after a long gestation starting with his competition-winning design in 1957...
, The O'Keefe Centre, Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and has made over 1,000 solo appearances at the London Palladium
London Palladium
The London Palladium is a 2,286 seat West End theatre located off Oxford Street in the City of Westminster. From the roster of stars who have played there and many televised performances, it is arguably the most famous theatre in London and the United Kingdom, especially for musical variety...
.
He has worked with many personalities of the day, from rock and pop stars, actors and TV performers, to politicians, princes, to luminaries, such as Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Adam Faith
Adam Faith
Terence "Terry" Nelhams-Wright, known as Adam Faith was a Teen idol English singer, actor and later financial journalist. He was one of the most charted acts of the 1960s. He became the first UK artist to lodge his initial seven hits in the Top 5...
, Sean Connery
Sean Connery
Sir Thomas Sean Connery , better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy Award, two BAFTA Awards and three Golden Globes Sir Thomas Sean Connery (born 25 August 1930), better known as Sean Connery, is a Scottish actor and producer who has won an Academy...
, Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, The Beatles
The Beatles
The Beatles were an English rock band, active throughout the 1960s and one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music. Formed in Liverpool, by 1962 the group consisted of John Lennon , Paul McCartney , George Harrison and Ringo Starr...
, Shirley Bassey
Shirley Bassey
Dame Shirley Bassey, DBE , is a Welsh singer. She found fame in the late 1950s and was "one of the most popular female vocalists in Britain during the last half of the 20th century"...
, Barbra Streisand
Barbra Streisand
Barbra Joan Streisand is an American singer, actress, film producer and director. She has won two Academy Awards, eight Grammy Awards, four Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award, an American Film Institute award, a Peabody Award, and is one of the few entertainers who have won an Oscar, Emmy, Grammy,...
, Robert Redford
Robert Redford
Charles Robert Redford, Jr. , better known as Robert Redford, is an American actor, film director, producer, businessman, environmentalist, philanthropist, and founder of the Sundance Film Festival. He has received two Oscars: one in 1981 for directing Ordinary People, and one for Lifetime...
, Tony Blair
Tony Blair
Anthony Charles Lynton Blair is a former British Labour Party politician who served as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 2 May 1997 to 27 June 2007. He was the Member of Parliament for Sedgefield from 1983 to 2007 and Leader of the Labour Party from 1994 to 2007...
, and members of the Royal Family
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
.
He has toured with Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
(during Holly's 1958 stay in England) and Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan
Jason Donovan is an Australian actor and singer. He initially achieved fame in the Australian soap opera Neighbours, before beginning a career in music in 1988. In the UK he has sold over 3 million records, and his début album Ten Good Reasons was one of the highest-selling albums of 1989...
.
He was the very first special guest on the second - and most popular - incarnation of the long-running TV guest show This Is Your Life
This Is Your Life (UK TV series)
This Is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64...
.
He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(CBE) in the 2008 Birthday Honours.
Marriages
- Phyllis Gill (married 1953, divorced 1959); 1 daughter, Karen O'Connor
- Gillian Vaughan (married 1960, divorced 1982); 2 daughters, TJ O'Connor, Samantha O'Connor
- Jay Rufer (married 1985, divorced 1990); 1 daughter, Kristina O'Connor
- Jodie Brooke Wilson (married 16 September 2007); 1 son Adam O'Connor
Television work
Des O'Connor has starred in a mainstream TV show in almost every year since 1963, a feat that only one other television personality has achieved worldwide (US game show host Bob BarkerBob Barker
Robert William "Bob" Barker is a former American television game show host. He is best known for hosting CBS's The Price Is Right from 1972 to 2007, making it the longest-running daytime game show in North American television history, and for hosting Truth or Consequences from 1956 to 1975.Born...
, who hosted mainstream television shows from 1956 until 2007, with 1966-1972 being in syndication). In 2001, he was presented with the Special Recognition Award at the National Television Awards
National Television Awards
The National Television Awards is a British television awards ceremony, broadcast by the ITV network and initiated in 1995. The National Television Awards are the most prominent ceremony for which the results are voted on by the general public. Because of the way the awards are decided, winners are...
for his contributions to television.
Notable shows hosted by Des O'Connor:
- The Des O'Connor Show (1963–1971)
- Des O'Connor Entertains (1974–76) - A variety show with guest stars, featuring singing, dancing and comedy sketches.
- Des O'Connor TonightDes O'Connor TonightDes O'Connor Tonight is a British variety chat show hosted by comedian and singer Des O'Connor. It was originally broadcast on the BBC from 1977 until 1982, where it then moved to ITV in 1983 starting on 1 November and ran until 24 December 2002 after it was axed by ITV after 25 years on air.-Des...
(1977–2002) - A celebrity chatshow that also featured music and comedy. - Take Your PickTake Your PickTake Your Pick was a UK game show originally broadcast by Radio Luxembourg in the early 1950s. The show transferred to television in 1955 with the launch of ITV, where it continued until 1968...
(1992–98) - Today with Des and MelToday with Des and MelToday with Des and Mel was a British television series hosted by Des O'Connor and Melanie Sykes. The show featured celebrity guests, phone-in competitions and chat between the hosts. It was produced by Carlton Television, at The London Studios...
(2002–06) - A live afternoon chat and light entertainment show co-hosted by Melanie SykesMelanie SykesMelanie Ann Sykes is an English television presenter and model.-Career:Melanie Sykes was born to an English father, and an Anglo-Indian mother. She first came to public attention as the bikini-clad girl in the Boddingtons beer advertisements with the broad "Northern" accent in the mid-1990s...
. On 12 May 2006, ITVITVITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
announced that the show would be one of a number to be axed in a "painful, but utterly necessary" move. - CountdownCountdown (game show)Countdown is a British game show involving word and number puzzles. It is produced by ITV Studios and broadcast on Channel 4. It is presented by Jeff Stelling, assisted by Rachel Riley, with regular lexicographer Susie Dent. It was the first programme to be aired on Channel 4, and over sixty-five...
(2007–08) - On 2 January 2007, Des O'Connor took over from Des LynamDes LynamDesmond Michael "Des" Lynam, OBE is an Irish television and radio presenter based in the UK.He has hosted television coverage of high profile events for many years...
as co-presenter (with Carol VordermanCarol VordermanCarol Jean Vorderman MBE is a British media personality, best known for co-hosting the popular game show Countdown for 26 years from 1982 to 2008. In September 2011 she became a co-anchor of the ITV1 panel show Loose Women....
) of Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
's long-running quiz show Countdown. He left the show in 2008 to spend more time on theatre and entertainment-based projects; his co-host Carol Vorderman has also since left. - He appeared in a 2008 TescoTescoTesco plc is a global grocery and general merchandise retailer headquartered in Cheshunt, United Kingdom. It is the third-largest retailer in the world measured by revenues and the second-largest measured by profits...
ChristmasChristmasChristmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
advert singing 'The Christmas SongThe Christmas Song"The Christmas Song" is a classic Christmas song written in 1944 by musician, composer, and vocalist Mel Tormé and Bob Wells. According to Tormé, the song was written during a blistering hot summer...
'.
Singing career
O'Connor has had a successful career as a singer, recording thirty six albums, five of which reached the Top 40 of the UK Albums ChartUK Albums Chart
The UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
. His singing ability has been mocked frequently, notably by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
comedians Morecambe and Wise
Morecambe and Wise
Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise, usually referred to as Morecambe and Wise, or Eric and Ernie, were a British comic double act, working in variety, radio, film and most successfully in television. Their partnership lasted from 1941 until Morecambe's death in 1984...
over many years and, more recently, Ricky Gervais
Ricky Gervais
Ricky Dene Gervais is an English comedian, actor, director, radio presenter, producer, musician, and writer.Gervais achieved mainstream fame with his television series The Office and the subsequent series Extras, both of which he co-wrote and co-directed with friend and frequent collaborator...
. O'Connor has always taken criticism in good humour, even appearing with Morecambe and Wise on their 1975 Christmas Show in a sketch that mocked him.
In 1969, thirteen of his variety hours were pre-sold to NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
in the United States, as a summer replacement for the network's Kraft Music Hall
Kraft Music Hall
The Kraft Music Hall was a popular variety program, featuring top show business entertainers, which aired on NBC radio and television from 1933 to 1971....
. This series was broadcast in more than forty countries and was seen by 200 million people worldwide.
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
IRE Irish Singles Chart The Irish Singles Chart is Ireland's music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by the Irish Recorded Music Association and compiled on behalf of the IRMA by Chart-Track. Chart rankings are based on sales, which are compiled through over-the-counter retail data captured... |
||
| 1967 | "Careless Hands" | 6 | - |
| 1968 | "I Pretend I Pretend I Pretend is a song written by Barry Mason and Les Reed. Des O'Connor's recording of this song became a number-one hit in the UK in July 1968, and a number-one hit in Ireland the following month.... " |
1 | 1 |
| "1-2-3 O'Leary" | 4 | - | |
| 1969 | "Dick-A-Dum-Dum" | 14 | - |
| "Loneliness" | 18 | - | |
| 1970 | "I'll Go On Hoping" | 30 | - |
| "The Tips Of My Fingers" | 15 | - | |
| 1972 | "Don't Let The Good Life Pass You By" | - | - |
| 1975 | "Feelings" | - | - |
| "Three Times A Lady" | - | - | |
| 1986 | "The Skye Boat Song The Skye Boat Song "The Skye Boat Song" is a Scottish folk song, which can also be played as a waltz, recalling the escape of Prince Charles Edward Stuart from Uist to the Isle of Skye after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Charles escaped in a small boat, with the aid of Flora MacDonald, disguised as a... " |
10 | - |
Albums
| Year | Album | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| UK | IRE | ||
| 1968 | I Pretend | 8 | - |
| 1970 | With Love | 40 | - |
| 1972 | Sing A Favourite Song | 25 | - |
| 1980 | Just for You | 17 | - |
| 1984 | Des O'Connor Now | 24 | - |
| 1992 | Portrait | 63 | - |
| 2001 | A Tribute to the Crooners | 51 | - |
Compilations
- Just For You - 20 Special Songs (Warwick) (1979)
- Remember Romance - 20 Great Love Songs (Warwick) (1980)
- Now - 16 Classic Songs (Telstar) (1984)