Opportunity Knocks for young Kincraig piper
A talented Kincraig bagpiper will be following in his dad’s showbiz footsteps when he performs this weekend at the auditions for the hit TV show Britain’s Got Talent.
Fifteen year old Ashley Newman is hoping that history will repeat itself and he will go on to make a name for himself like his father, Dave, did nearly 40 years ago.
It was in 1972 that Mr Newman, now living in Aviemore, won the daddy of all talent shows, Hughie Green’s "Opportunity Knocks".
He sang a version of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" which was to take him to the dizzy heights of the hit parade enjoying a six week run and peaking at number 34 that year.
"My dad didn’t just win Opportunity Knocks," said Ashley, "he notched up six winning weeks in a row. He was phenomenal.
"If I can do even half that well, I’ll be over the moon."
On his own audition, he said: "It was a really big buzz, getting accepted and I’m hoping the judges will be Amanda Holden, Michael McIntyre and David Hasselhoff.
"Simon Cowell now only judges the live shows, later on."
His bid for stardom will be this Saturday at the Edinburgh International Conference Centre.
Ashley was giving nothing away this week about his act, other than to assure the "Strathy": "I’ll be giving it my best shot, because I’m not just doing it for me, I’m doing it for my dad."
His dad is keeping his fingers crossed.
Opportunity Knocks star Dave said: "I hope he enjoys the experience – because it certainly will be an experience."
