On Wednesday 23 May 1979, the little Scottish lass with the big voice appeared in her first television series, belting out songs from the golden Hollywood era.
Former Opportunity Knockswinner Little Lena Zavaroni had grown up from a precocious, loud infant into an incredibly talented, all-round entertainer (albeit just 15 years old) who could really sing, slipping effortlessly into portrayals of Ruby Keeler, Judy Garland, and even Mae West.
She was accompanied on her lavish BBC show by Alyn Ainsworth and his Orchestra and vocal backing group The Third Kind.
Her guests on the six episodes included Edward WoodWard, dancer Wayne Sleep, Elaine Stritch, mime artist Adrian Hedley, jazz trombonist George Chisholm, and comedy acrobats Johnny Hutch and the Comedy Hollywood Cops.
Lena Zavaroni returned to the BBC in 1980 with her series Lena, which ran until 1982.
Sadly, she battled anorexia nervosa from an early age and underwent drug treatments and electroconvulsive therapy in an attempt to end her depression. In September 1999, she was admitted to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for a “pioneering” psychosurgical operation.
Although she recovered from the operation, she contracted bronchial pneumonia three weeks later and died on 1 October 1999. She was just 35.
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She was accompanied on her lavish BBC show by Alyn Ainsworth and his Orchestra and vocal backing group The Third Kind.
