Johnny Young, host and creator of Young Talent Time, dies aged 79

The singer-songwriter and producer also wrote several Australian hits, including The Real Thing for Russell Morris Johnny Young, the singer-songwriter and producer who created and hosted the popular variety show Young Talent Time, has died aged 79. Young’s family announced his death in a statement on Friday, saying that Young died “following a brief battle with pancreatic cancer”. “Johnny was the creator, host and producer of the much loved television show Young Talent Time. He wrote and produced many iconic hit songs including The Real Thing and Smiley,” the statement read. “The family respectfully asks for privacy during this difficult time. Details of a memorial service will be announced soon.” Young Talent Time, which originally aired from 1971 until 1988, launched the careers of several Australian singers including Tina Arena, Debra Byrne and Dannii Minogue. Every episode ended with Young and the cast performing the same closing number: the Beatles track All My Loving, one of his signature songs. Young was born Johnny Benjamin Arthur de Jong in the Netherlands in 1947, with his family migrating to Perth in the 1950s. His family encouraged him to perform from an early age, with