Here's the post I tried to post on 4 May. I'm glad that Opportunity Knocks has been mentioned!

Yertis:

I have an exceptionally tenuous link to Mary Hopkin. My best mate at school was a prodigiously brilliant piano accordion player (he was a Polish lad who played mainly for dances at the various Polish clubs around Bury, Oldham, Rochdale and the like, but he was also a virtuoso when it came to classical pieces adapted for the accordion - whilst still at Thornleigh he travelled to Russia to take part in the world championships and came eighth in the world!) Anyway, for his sins he went on Opportunity Knocks with Hughie Green whilst still a teenager. If my memory serves me well, he won one week and went on for a second time - up against Mary Hopkin that time, who beat him into second place! Clapometer, anyone? :-)

I'm still in touch with him. He plays just for his own pleasure these days and is currently very interested in tango, the music of Astor Piazzolla, which I also love! Libertango!