Biography ...
He is one of only a handful of British entertainers to be acclaimed internationally on stage and television when he was given an American series of his show went out to over 40 countries and was seen by 200 million people world-wide. Des O’Connor is today established as one of the world’s most popular and best loved entertainers. Since landing his first television series in the UK in 1963 he has starred in his own mainstream television show for over 45 years – longer than anyone anywhere in the world.
He was born in the East End of London and during the war was evacuated to Northampton. After National Service in the RAF he entered show business. His first theatre appearances were in variety all over the country before his break in television.
On stage he has starred at the MGM Grand Las Vegas, the Sydney Opera House, The O’Keefe Centre, Toronto and over 1000 solo appearances at the London Palladium.
Since 1967 he has been a hugely successful recording star. He had his first hit single with Careless Hands, followed by I Pretend which went to No 1. Since then his recording career has produced 36 albums with sales of over 16 million and he has spent 117 weeks in the top ten charts. His current album is titled "Inspired" and is possibly his best to date.
In 2001 he received the coveted Special Recognition Award at the National TV Awards at the Royal Albert Hall. His top-selling autobiography Bananas Can’t Fly (Headline Publishing) was published the June 2002.
He has met and worked with all the major
personalities of the day, from rock and pop
stars actors and TV performers, to politicians
to princes, to luminaries, such as Frank Sinatra
Sean Connery, Liberace, the Beatles,
Barbara Streisand, Robert Redford, and more
recently Hugh Grant, the Spice Girls,
Robbie Williams, Mel Gibson, Pavarotti,
Sir Elton John, Tony Blair, and almost every
member of the Royal Family.
In Des O'Connor Tonight (ITV), he's got a chat show to die for. Compared to the rest, Des is effortlessly professional, so slick it hurts."
He has made over 1,000 performances at the London Palladium and starred in Cabaret
theatre and sell-out concerts at almost everyleading venue throughout the world, including the MGM grand Hotel, Las Vegas, the Opera House, Sydney, the Concert hall, Auckland; the O'Keefe Centre, Toronto, and the Arts Centre Ottawa.
Daily Express.
Des has had his own prime time TV show for 44 consecutive years, longer than anyone, anywhere on the planet.
His journey to superstardom really began when he was given his own television series, The Des O'Connor Show in 1963. He is one of only a handful of British entertainers to be acclaimed internationally on stage and television: when he was given an American series of his show it went out to over 40 countries and was seen by 200 million people world-wide. Des has now starred in his own prime-time television show longer than anyone anywhere in the world.
"....... This is among the most entertaining hours on television."
Daily Express.
Recent TV includes Des O’Connor Tonight specials; an ITV celebration special to mark Des’ 40th year in prime time television; Des O’Connor Comedy Tonight and a
series of prime-time Des O’Connor With one-to-one specials.
His award winning ITV1 daily celebrity talk show Today With Des & Mel with co-host Melanie Sykes. The couple's lively and spntaneous banter proved such a hit with the viewers that the show more than doubled its audience, and won an RTS Programme Award since it’s launch in autumn 2002. So far this hour of fun, have notched up 414 programmes in the series.
In 2007 Des took over the helm of the hugely popular words and numbers, daily quiz Countdown on Channel 4 for 2 years.
On the other side of the camera, an exciting new venture for Des O’Connor is his TV production company Visionworld. He is now primed to create and produce innovative and compelling product content that deliver fresh ideas, whilst embracing loved classic concepts with vital modern formats
Des was awarded a CBE by the Queen in her birthday honours list in June 2008 , and proudly collected his award at Buckingham Palace a few days after the release of his 34th album "Inspired" .
And the story continues........
. CBE
