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Vale: Bobby Driessen

Updated: Former teen performer, best known for Young Talent Time, has died.

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Former teen performer Bobby Driessen, best known for Young Talent Time has died, aged just 56.

The official YTT Facebook page advises, “All of us here at Young Talent Time, are incredibly saddened to hear the news of Bobby Driessen one of our beloved team members has passed away in his sleep. Only 56 years old, way too young to have left us. Bobby you will be sadly missed. Vale Bobby Driessen.”

Born John Driessen in Rotterdam, Netherlands, he became a teen heartthrob on Young Talent Time from 1979 – 83, frequently performing duets with a young Tina Arena.

Following YTT he co-hosted Cartoon Company on Nine with ex-YTT Karen Dunkerton in 1985. He also presented a Fat Cat kid’s album.

In the documentary Young Talent Time Tells All (2001) he sadly revealed a battle with drugs.

Driessen did not participate in the 50th Anniversary celebrations for YTT in 2021.

Facebook has been flooded with comments from those who remember “a beautiful voice to match those beautiful eyes” and “my first TV crush on YTT.”

Updated: Dannii Minogue posted on Instagram, “Bobby was a kind gentle soul, with bucketloads of charisma. We were a family on Young Talent Time. Bobby will be missed by his family, friends and fans. Vale Bobby Driessen.”

Beven Addinsall said, “In 1983 I joined Young Talent Time. The team member I replaced was Bobby Driessen. A uniquely talented funny and charismatic person. I’m so saddened to hear that Bobby has passed away in his sleep. He was only 56 and it has come as quite a shock. Vale Bobby Driessen.”

7 Responses

  2. Such shocking news to hear of the sudden death of Bobby Driessen at 56. YTT was required viewing for me as a teen growing up. I saw all of it. Tina Arena was always going to be a star from her young age. Prodigy. Bobby wasnt my fave male singer, but they all had that something special. I was heartbroken when the show eventually ended.

    Vale Bobby. You will be sorely missed.

    1. off topic, but do you enjoy receiving spam emails? because using your email address as a user name is a sure way to start receiving lots of it…..

  3. I do hope young people getting into showbiz nowadays get offered more support than may have been given back then, especially when leaving the industry & transitioning back to not being famous. Much like in the sporting world, people give their all & rise to the top only to find themselves lost when it all ends, which may have been the case with Bobby. RIP mate, you will not be forgotten by those of us who grew up watching you.

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