Des O'Connor
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Desmond Bernard O'Connor is a British entertainer, born January 12th, 1932 in Stepney, London. He moved to Northampton during the Second World War and there briefly played professional football for the local side Northampton Town. He also trained as a jockey, although he remained an amateur and soon gave it up to become a Butlins Redcoat.
He toured with Buddy Holly and Lonnie Donegan in 1958 and made his first television appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium, taking over as host of the top-of-the-ratings ITV variety show in 1961. He has appeared on numerous television programmes from the 1950s right through to the 2000s, and was the butt of many affectionate gibes by Morecambe and Wise concerning his singing talent - or lack of it - which he always took in good part, however, "I Pretend" reached No.1.
O'Connor's fiancée, Jodie Brooke Wilson (35), gave birth to their first child (and O'Connor's fifth), Adam Harrison Campbell, in September 2004.
Notable TV shows
- Des O'Connor Tonight (1977-2002)
- Take Your Pick (1992-1998)
- Today with Des and Mel (2002-present)
Hit Singles (UK)
- "Careless Hands" (1967)
- "I Pretend" (1968)
- "1-2-3 O'Leary" (1968)
- "Dick-A-Dum-Dum" (King's Road) (1969)
- "Loneliness" (1969)
- "I'll Go On Hoping" (1970)
- "The Tips Of My Fingers" (1970)
- "The Skye Boat Song" (with Roger Whittaker) (1986)