All the talk in school this week has been about the television show, 'Britain's got Talent', a contest that isn't just based on how well you can sing or dance but covers the whole spectrum of variety entertainment with such diverse acts as magicians, acrobats and performing animals competing with the usual posse of singers, dancers and musicians for that coveted final spot. It's the brainchild of Simon Cowell but those of us with long memories and many birthdays recall a very similar programme that disappeared from our screens in the late seventies after a run of over fifteen years. I remember Opportunity Knocks for several reasons. First, its presenter, Hughie Green, already famous as host of 'Double Your Money', used to wink his way through the programme with an over use of the word 'friends' and then there was the 'clapometer', a strange sort of dial that used to appear unsteadily on screen and a rickety needle that used to ascend and descend the scale depending on how loudly the audience applauded each act. This was supposed to be an indicator how popular the act was and maybe also how good it was, but all you needed to do was to pack the audience with your friends on the night you were performing and you were pretty certain to make the needle rise higher than anyone else. There were many great acts that started out their careers on the programme, such as Les Dawson, Little and Large, Peters and Lee, Frank Carson, Stan Boardman, Freddie Starr and Pam Ayres but the ones that stick out in my mind were those that found instant fame through the programme but discovered that it didn't really last more than fifteen minutes. Don't you remember Bernie Flint, the folk singer, who just seemed to win week after week, the pianist Bobby Crush, the child stars Neil Reid and Lena Zavaroni and of course Tony Holland the guy who appeared in his swimming trunks and flexed his muscles for weeks on end in rhythm with 'Wheels Cha Cha.' And I mean that most sincerely folks!
But it had plenty of competition from another programme, New Faces, run on the same lines that gave people such as Roy Walker, Michael Barrymore, Lenny Henry, Les Dennis, Victoria Wood, Showadywaddy, the Chuckle brothers (not Ian and Martin who weren't exactly chuckling at each other about that time) and Malandra Burrows who went on to star in Emmerdale but won New Faces before she was ten years old. The only difference between the two talent shows was in how the winner was picked, with New Faces preferring to have a panel some of whom were much more direct and uncharitable than Cowell ever has been and who also scored each act. On the other hand Opportunity Knocks host, Hughie Green always reminded the audience that the 'clapometer is only for fun' and encouraged folks at home to send in their votes on a postcard with the winner being announced at the beginning of the following week's programme.
How times have changed with phone lines and texts meaning that within the hour, we now know the result in most of the similar modern talent shows. But one thing hasn't changed and that is the desire of so many people to take advantage of the opportunity to find fame, even if it lasts a lot less than fifteen minutes. And while there are those who seek every opportunity to find favour and fame in man's eyes, our goal as believers should be to use our times as best we can in the service of our Saviour. Paul writes to the Christians in Ephesus, 'Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.' And when the opportunity knocks to be a witness for Him, don't be distracted by the applause of man but know that the One whose opinion really counts as ready to bless His servant.
