| Opportunity Knocks | |
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| Also known as | Bob Says Opportunity Knocks (1987–89) |
| Genre | Talent show |
| Presented by |
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| Country of origin | United Kingdom |
| Original language | English |
| No. of series |
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| No. of episodes |
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| Production | |
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| Running time | 50 minutes (BBC1) |
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| Original release | |
| Network | BBC Light Programme |
| Release | 18 February – 29 September 1949 |
| Network | ITV |
| Release | 20 June – 29 August 1956 |
| Release | 11 July 1964 – 20 March 1978 |
| Network | BBC1 |
| Release | 21 March 1987 – 2 June 1990 |
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| New Faces | |
| Infobox instructions (only shown in preview) | |
Opportunity Knocks is a British television and radio talent show originally hosted by Hughie Green, with a late-1980s revival hosted by Bob Monkhouse, and later by previous winner Les Dawson. From its origin on BBC Radio in 1949 the show provided a platform to fame for acts such as Spike Milligan and Frankie Vaughan. One of the most popular shows on British television, in the 1960s and 1970s it had a weekly audience of 20 million viewers.[5]
The original radio version started on the BBC Light Programme, where it ran from 18 February to 29 September 1949, but moved to Radio Luxembourg in the 1950s.[6] It was shown on ITV from 20 June 1956 to 29 August 1956, produced by Associated Rediffusion. A second run commenced on 11 July 1964 and lasted until 20 March 1978, produced first by ABC and then by Thames. During this period Bob Sharples was musical director.[7] Green presented a single episode of Opportunity Knocks for RTÉ in 1979. It was revived by the BBC from 21 March 1987 to 2 June 1990, hosted initially by Monkhouse from 1987 to 1989 (under the title Bob Says Opportunity Knocks!) and subsequently by Dawson in 1990. Kiki Dee's hit single "Star" became the theme song for the revived BBC series.[8]
- ^ a b "Wembley Studios (Rediffusion)". TV Studio History. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Teddington (Early Film Days, ABC, Thames)". TV Studio History. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "The programmes". TV Studio History. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Elstree – ATV & BBC". TV Studio History. Retrieved 19 December 2021.
- ^ "Opportunity blocked: how Hughie Green brought chaos to the EEC". The Guardian. Retrieved 26 January 2022.
Opportunity Knocks had been one of Britain's top TV programmes for the past 13 years with a weekly audience of 20 million. Hughie Green's style – "and I mean this most sincerely, folks" – had ensured the success of such "international names" as Frankie Vaughan and the Batchelors.
- ^ "Press Your Buttons Now! – We look back at talent shows of yesteryear". BBC. Retrieved 13 May 2007.
- ^ Bob Sharples obituary, The Guardian, 9 September 1987 p. 34
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Starwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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