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There was a time when there were no boy bands, no X Factor, no celebrity magazines and only two soap operas on TV (Crossroads and Coronation St) and neither of them featured handsome men.
Young girls growing up in the 70's had to make do with unlikely heartthrob's such as Ben Murphy and Pete Duel from BBC 2 cowboy drama, Alias Smith and Jones (actually looking at them now, they were quite handsome!) John Boy Walton and Richard O'Sullivan from Man about the House.
Ok, admittedly we had Donny Osmond and David Cassidy, but neither of them of them quite did it for me, and my need for glamour, excitement and a major crush, really wasn't satisfied until the launch of the ITV show, The Persuaders.
Starring Tony Curtis as Danny Wilde, a self made millionaire from the Bronx and Roger Moore as Lord Brett Sinclair, an English aristocrat. The show followed the adventures of the two international playboys and made much fun of their cultural differences. There were fast cars, glamorous locations, dolly birds (a popular phrase at the time) and most of all, two gorgeous completely unattainable men. I have to admit to having a poster of them on the underside of my school desk, which shows my age in oh so many ways.
The series was cancelled after just 24 episodes and as we were in the technology free 70's, there were no videos or boxed sets, so it remains a nostalgic distant memory.
Listening to the opening credits, I am instantly transported back to 1971, when, as a not very confident girl on the brink of growing up, I could tune in every week and escape to a glamorous world, filled with beautiful people and very dishy (another 70's word) men.
Tony Curtis may have been fabulous in Some Like it Hot, but to me he will always be Danny Wilde. RIP Danny.
The other one I loved was the one where one of the leads was actually dead, Randell and Hopkirk (deceased).....I think I liked the dead one, Ax
Posted by: amanda | October 01, 2010 at 10:02 AM
Whilst they are both TOTALLY knee-weakeningly sexy with a capital S, I bet (I BET!) you can guess which one I fancied...
Posted by: steffi | October 01, 2010 at 11:55 AM
John Boy Walton was never a hearthrob in my book. But then being a little bit younger than you perhaps I can vote for the original Dukes of Hazzard? The blond one? (can't remember if that was Bo or Luke). And David Soul as Hutch? Not that they've quite got the glamour of Tony and Rog though.
Posted by: Marv | October 01, 2010 at 12:31 PM
OOh Starsky and Hutch! Friday night TV . And their knitted cardis and leather bombers....now we're talking
Ax
Posted by: amanda | October 01, 2010 at 04:29 PM
Oh, Pete Duel was my man. I still have the Athena poster. But then I've always loved the western thing. Remember The Virginian? How cool was he?!!
Z xx
Posted by: Pennyblossoms | October 01, 2010 at 06:17 PM
Oh all out 70's TV faves are being revealed today. Ben Murphy for me and always Starsky never Hutsh. I actually went to the premiere of the new Strasky and Hutch film a couple of years ago and he was there, just as gorgeous!!
J x
Posted by: jane | October 01, 2010 at 06:26 PM
Pete Dual! Oh my goodness, had forgotten how I used to swoon over him in The Virginian. Also had a major crush on the dark haired one in The Champions - not William Gaunt, not Alexandra Bastedo, the other one, whatshisname? Craig something.....
Posted by: Jude | October 05, 2010 at 03:19 PM
Stuart Damon Jude, I loved him too. Listen to this it will take youright back!
http://www.guitarsolos.com/videos-theme-from-the-champions-%5Bidr_CV8mdxI%5D.cfm
J x
Posted by: jane | October 07, 2010 at 09:30 AM