I had worked with YTT producers Johnny Young and Kevin Lewis on a number of television productions for 2 years prior to the YTT concept being born, and my father Sam was instrumental in supplying the contact details of the talented young friends I had previously worked with on the Seven Network production of Brian and the Juniors, so that the audition process could begin to choose the other 5 members of the original Young Talent Team.

Did I enjoy my time with Young Talent Time ? You bet I did !

I can honestly say that my time with the show was a major highlight of my career and gave me without a doubt many of the happiest moments of my life.

A small number of my fellow YTT cast members don't feel the way I do about their own time with the show and have made it very clear in the media that they would rather forget the whole YTT experience, which saddens me greatly. 

In my opinion, both sides ( JY and the team members in question) are decent and honest people, so you can imagine how hard and confusing it is for me to hear such opposing views on their respective YTT experiences. 

The truth, as they say, probably lies somewhere in the middle - and, although I was present on the YTT set at the same time much of the negative stuff is alleged to have taken place - I remember nothing but happy times and lots of fun and laughter, and would do it all over again in a heart beat.

In fairness to my team member friends, I was only a little kid at the time, so maybe I was simply too naive to be aware of anything negative that may have been happening - it all appeared to be no different to our time with Brian and the Juniors to me.

I loved Brian and the Juniors, I loved Young Talent Time, and I'm now loving my Jamie Redfern Presents television show which I produce for Foxtels Aurora channel - tune in and join in the fun !! 

As director and vocal coach of the Australian Showbusiness Academy in Melbourne's Hoppers Crossing, I personally witness each day the very positive effect the Idol concept continues to have on young performers with stars in their eyes and ambition in their hearts - and I love it !

Before Idol, New Faces and Young Talent Time gave young performers a chance to be discovered and gain rare television exposure.

Both New Faces and YTT enjoyed enormous ratings success, and the socially accepted adjudication method employed by each concept at the time was the use of gentle positive encouragement. My own manager the wonderful Miss Evie Hayes was the perfect example of this philosophy in action, and would only ever critisize a talent quest contestant using the most respectful and diplomatic words possible - and we all loved her for it.

Then came Pot Of Gold and the introduction of the always entertaining though often razor tongued critiques of Bernard King. Bernard knew only one way to adjudicate - his way - and once again, though in stark contrast to the method used by Evie, the television viewing audiences loved it. 

The success of Pot of Gold was a sign that times had begun to change, and that something which was once television taboo, had become a sure fire ratings winner.

The negative comments occasionally directed at contestants on Australian Idol now make Bernard Kings tirades seem like the ramblings of a schoolboy on valium, but in defense of the idol judges, and the concept in general, I have to say that it is only a true reflection of how much times have changed yet again, and is nothing more than what the contestants can expect should they make it as successful performers on the world stage.

My humble advice to performers who find themselves in the Idol judges firing line, is to use the experience as a positive - a chance to harden themselves to the realities of the negative aspects of the industry I have known and loved for the better part of 45 years.

Comments often levelled at performers by some members of the public and the media via the internet and other social mediums can be potentially soul destroying - it comes with the territory. 

Showbusiness is unfortunately not all glitz and glamour - it is a rewarding but tough industry and a performer has to be equally as tough to succeed and survive in it. Nowadays, I truly believe mental toughness is a prerequisite to a successful career as a performer, and that Idol is simply giving the contestants a taste of what to expect, nothing more.

Personally, I hope that Australian Idol exists for many years to come - not only for the sake of the Australian music industry, but also for the sake of the many exciting young world class stars of the future we are yet to meet, who might not have otherwise been given a chance to shine.

Jamie Redfern 

We were introduced to each other in 1972 by our mutual friend Molly Meldrum. Michael had asked Molly to introduce us after seeing me perform on the Johnny Carson show when I was in America touring with Mr Showmanship Liberace, and when we met we immediately hit it off and became instant friends.

I have wonderful memories of the fun and laughter we shared, and of having the great honour of hearing Michaels amazing hit song Ben, before it was released to the world. 

The jury is still out as to the cause of Michaels untimely death, but at present all indications point to a heart attack induced by an overdose of prescription painkillers allegedly administered to him by his personal physician Dr Conrad Robert Murray.

Michael had been busy rehearsing and preparing for a series of sold out concert performances, which we now learn were meant to include a number of performances in Australia.

I had heard about the possibility of this via the very hush hush showbusiness grapevine and was looking forward to making contact with my friend while he was in Australia, with a view to challenging him to another relaxing game of ten pin bowling - something we had tremendous fun doing together when we were kids. Unfortunately, this of course wasn't meant to be.

People have asked me many times throughout the years whether I believed Michael was guilty or innocent of the terrible charges levelled against him in the past 10 years or so, and my answer has always been the same.

Michael was my friend and had insisted that he was totally innocent - so, until someone could prove otherwise, just like any other friend, he deserved my full support. That's what friendship is all about, and I have never believed in being just a fairweather friend to anyone.

Do I agree that Michaels behaviour was at times not in keeping with socially accepted norms ?

Yes, of course I do - but, just because I wouldn't behave that way myself, it didn't mean that Michaels actions were neccessarily malicious or unlawful; that type of thing must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law, and no one was ever able to do that conclusively.

Though clearly socially unacceptable, Michael's actions were never proven to be anything more than the eccentric behaviour of an obviously troubled soul, and history has shown us time and time again that unscrupulous predators are ever on the lookout for the money making opportunities such troubled souls provide - especially when it includes the notoriety they may recieve when the target has such a high public profile.

I hope my friend Michael Jackson is remembered for the absolutely stunning musical legacy he left to the world he said he wanted so much to heal - and not for eccentric behaviour which was never proven to be anything more.

With the three biggest selling albums of all time, including Thriller as epitaphs to his unparalleled talent and career, I'm sure the healing will continue for generations to come.

R.I.P Michael, and thank you for both the music, and the friendship. 

Jim - Jamie Redfern