Monday 24 January 2000
By eBroadcast Staff and agencies.

Johnny Young, host of the children's talent show Young Talent Time in the 70's and 80's, has spoken out for the first time about dark rumours that have dogged him since a sensational episode in the Philippines a few years ago.

"I'm not bent. I'm not queer." explains Young, "I'm not an abuser of children. I've never had a gay experience in my life. Don't you think if I had ever been inappropriate with a juvenile, with a younger person, don't you think they would have come out of the woodwork by now to get their lousy hundred dollars off the media?."

In the series return of Australian Story on the ABC (airing Feb 10), Young also discusses the circumstances surrounding his arrest and subsequent jailing in the Philippines because of his alleged involvement with an illegal AIDS clinic.

Young, 53, also touches on his new career, his new marriage and the search for his real father.

Australian Story returns to the ABC in the new timeslot of 8.00pm, Thursday February 10.