Neil has appeared twice (so far) on the Des O'Connor show.  This was his first appearance in November of 1991.  He had come over to Europe to promote the Lovescape Album.

Neil then joined Des for the interview.

Des is a comedian who has made records.  People are always making fun of his singing and his records.  He jokes about it himself. In his intro to the show he had been mentioning this and one particualr song with crazy lyrics.   When Neil came on he immeditaely said -

ND - Before we start - Dikadumdum? Dikadumdum? I only wish I had thought of it first.

Des - Yes great lyrics.

Des mentioned that he had heard that Princess Diana was a very big fan of Neil's. He replied "That's what I hear". Des went on to ask him about the visit to the White House.

ND - I did a couple of songs at the White House. I wasn't prepared for it. I was invited as a guest. Mrs Reagan came over to me while I was dancing with my wife and said "Would you mind singing a few songs?"

It scared me to death. I said "I'd love to but I am totally unprepared."

So she took me by the elbow over to the conductor. He had a whole book - a list of my songs and he said "Just pick whatever ones you want." I picked out two songs and they played them beautifully and I sang it as best I could considering the people that were there. It was very interesting.

Is it true that Princess Diana asked you to dance?

ND -

Yes she did. It was one of the most frightening moments of my life. I was just standing around after I had performed and she tapped me on the shoulder and said "Is it proper for a lady to ask a gentleman to dance in this country?" My jaw dropped to the floor. I crawled out to the dance floor and we danced. It was wonderful."

Des - She's always picking up diamonds!

Then there was a discussion about Brooklyn and the artists who had come from there. Neil told his Barbra Sreisand school story.

Next came the questions about Tin Pan Alley.Neil said he had been in a cubicle next door to the two writers who were working on Fiddler On The Roof.

Des - You were hearing Dah dah dah dah dum dum?

ND - Yes and I was saying these people are never going to make it. It's never going to happen!

Des then spoke about Neil taking a break from concerts in the seventies at the height of his success. He asked if it took a special kind of courage to walk away from all that.

ND - Well I had been on the road for a number of years. I had a little baby that I wanted to see and he wanted to see me. My wife did want to see me every once in a while! I just made up my mind a year before I stopped that I would stop and take a rest for a year - get to know my son, my wife - read a little bit - just do normal things - take the kids to school. I enjoyed it so much it stretched out to four years.

ND - I was writing, I was recording but I didn't make any personal appearances at all.

Des - Did you miss it?

ND - No I loved it. I went fishing with my son all the time and doing things I couldn't do when I was on the road.

Des - It gives a lot but it takes a lot away doesn't it - the success?

ND - Well, it takes a certain amount of commitment and I didn't mind so much. But a child doesn't want to know his father is off making a career. He wants his dad at home and he wants to see him once in a while. I felt that was pretty important.

Then they talked a bit about song writing in general before Des mentioned that he the new album Lovescape coming out.

Sorry Des ...........................

but here is a little snippet from the Sunday Mail of December 1st.

Scott Robinson wrote in his Television Column -

"Did you ever see such a spectacular line-up of golden oldie talent as Des O'Connor paraded on his show this week?

There was Stephanie Beacham, looking outrageously beautiful for a woman of 44.

There was Tina Turner, whose 51-year-old voice is matched in quality only by her 51-year-old legs.

And there was Neil Diamond, singing as well as ever at the ripe old age of 50.

Unfortunately, Des couldn't resist doing what millions of viewers prayed he wouldn't do.  He SANG with Neil Diamond.  Aaaargh - to music lovers that must rank with Cilla Black doing a duet with Pavarotti."