The first TV exposure for Funny Bones, Freddie Davies's autobiography, came on July 31st when Freddie was interviewed by Duncan Wood and Christine Talbot for ITV Yorkshire's new programme Calendar.
An apt date, as it marked both the official publication of the book and fifty years ago to the day that Freddie was first invited to appear on talent show Opportunity Knocks after the show's producer, Peter Dulay, was impressed by his act at the Candlelight Club in Oldham - Opportunity Knocks was recorded the next day.
The Calendar item is no longer available to view but it began with a short clip from that very first Opp Knocks appearance and some footage from the final edition in 1978 (image, top) was also included, along with a taste of Freddie's acting skills on Heartbeat. Below is the text from the itv website:
Freddie 'Parrot Face' Davies celebrates fifty years in show business
Exactly fifty years ago tomorrow, Freddie Davies shot to national fame after appearing on Opportunity Knocks and he introduced his comic creation Samuel Tweet to audiences across the country.
His career took him from the working men's clubs of the north, onto the stage and then the big screen - all courtesy of a routine with a parrot and a hat. Freddie - or Parrot Face as he is better known to many - has marked his five decades in show business by penning his biography.
He has been chatting to Duncan and Christine.
Buy Freddie Davies's autobiography Funny Bones from amazon (paperback) or direct from Scratching Shed Publishing (paperback or limited edition hardback). Read an extract here.