Forever Fans: Lorena Novoa revisits Young Talent Time’s glory days in new podcast

Lorena Nova. Image supplied

For a generation of starstruck eighties kids, Young Talent Time was a Saturday night TV staple. And whilst many of us aspired to be a member of the Young Talent Team, only a select few ever got to fulfil that dream.

Lorena Novoa was one of them.

The hours of rehearsing, recording and filming were long and relentless, but for Lorena, none of it ever felt like work. Every second of every minute, she loved.

Lorena never wanted YTT to end. And neither did the show’s legion of fans.

Alas, it did, and whilst Lorena went on to carve a successful career as a youth mentor, vocalist and session artist – singing jingles for TV, radio and cinema – as well as fronting the Victoria Police rock band Code One, not a day goes by when she doesn’t reminisce about the magical YTT days.

But now, more than half a century after it first began, YTT has burst back into life in all its colourful glory, with Lorena having launched a new podcast on YouTube and TikTok called YTT Forever Fans.

Lorena interviews fans of the show, who get to show off their memorabilia and chat all things YTT.

As Lorena tells Radio Today, the idea came to her after she started posting a series of content videos called Show and Tell on her Facebook and TikTok pages.

In these videos, Lorena shares the treasured things she has kept since her days as a member of the Young Talent Team, such as photos, memorabilia, rehearsal schedule sheets – and the stories behind them.

“The reaction to these posts was unbelievable and fans were even starting their own conversations sharing their experiences together,” Lorena says.

“It dawned upon me that I’d really love to hear – and I think other fans would love to hear too – how YTT affected them, inspired them, brought them joy and in some cases helped them get through some challenging situations at home.”

Lorena says for many fans, YTT was ‘everything,’ and something that can never be replicated.

“The nostalgia it stirs in their hearts, the smiles that spread across their faces as they reminisce about the days of being glued to the TV watching this magical show gives me goosebumps.”

“I believe YTT is nothing without the fans and to this day they hold the show, John Young and all the team members so dear to their hearts.”

“I strongly believe that their stories need to be told, and it makes them feel special too. It’s my way of giving back to the fans that supported me, supported all of us.”

Lorena hopes the listeners will connect to the stories of the fans brave enough to come on and share their experience.

“I believe it will bring them joy, happiness, excitement and a stirring in their hearts they haven’t felt in a long time.”

“In a world full of violence, reality TV and burnout, I hope this podcast is a safe innocent space, a soothing elixir, a time out, and a twinkle in their eyes as they remember and appreciate how lucky we all were to have such a special show as Young Talent Time in our lives.”

Images supplied.