www.paulmolloy.co.uk

Presented by Vernon Kay. 

Well the search for the WORLDS GREATEST ELVIS finally arrived on our screens with the right man winning the contest, Shawn Klush of  USA. Many congratulations to him and all his fans. 

Out of thousands of Elvis tributes in the world, only 30 would be lucky enough to be chosen to perform in this special 30th Anniversary show, to mark the time of his untimely passing.

The selection process started for me via a phone call from the bbc asking if I would agree to an audition for the show, then after passing the 1st audition, I was invited down to the bbc studios for a call back. Each performer would have to carry out the same audition to the same judges which included the shows producer and members of the casting crew, using the same equipment etc, so everyone was starting from a level playing field.

Then came the wait as to would you be in or not. After many weeks of waiting the phone call finally came and it was mixed news for me. On the one hand it was a no, but on the other hand it was will you be a standby for the show which meant being there while the show was being filmed.         

I was there on standby for 3 catagories, 50s Rock n Roll, G.I and 68 Comeback special.

I arrived at the studios expecting to be just watching the rehearsals as I had been requested to learn 3 parts incase I was needed. One of the 68comeback performers had to fly out of the U.K at the last minute so in the event of not getting back in time, I was immediately asked to get suited and booted for the 68 comeback rehearsals. Obviously he returned in time so it wasn`t to be on this occasion.  

I was privileged to be able to sing with the fantastic bbc show band and I learned a lot from this experience and I will continue to do what I am doing and maybe next time I will get my chance, but it was a pleasure to be involved even if it was just in a small way, and it was great to be there mixing with title holders and champions from all around the world.

The biggest consolation for not getting on the show to me was without doubt, meeting and chatting to Joe Esposito ( pictured below ) who was not only one of Elvis`s closest friends, but was also his road manager on tour during the 1970s. As the old saying goes in the Elvis world, joe was the man........"TAKING CARE of BUSINESS".

Photo above taken at the after show party with Vernon Kay and Ricky Aron

Photo below taken during the rehearsals as standby for 68Comeback section

Many thanks to the following, from left to right; 

Robert Washington, Mario, Elvis Jnr, Me, Gary Gibson and Gordon Hendricks