State Affair - winners of Opportunity Knocks in 1978

An Oxford band achieved national fame 30 years ago this month when they appeared on Opportunity Knocks, the popular ITV show, writes Eva Emendoerfer.

Pete Myatt (bass), Mick Harris (drums), Mike Harris (singer/ guitar) and Peter Horwood (sax) were members of State Affair.

They had several auditions for the TV talent show, but were turned down every time.

Finally, they had the Swedish group, Abba, to thank for bringing them success.

Mick Harris, who runs Mick's Cafe, near Oxford railway station, explains: "Abba came on the scene, a group with two girls, and all bands started to include girls. It became the 'in' thing.

"We brought in two sisters, Maureen and Marilyn Stevens, and when we auditioned for Opportunity Knocks again, we were straight in."

They won the first week, earning the right to perform again, and the following week, they came second.

It was later revealed that the winning group had cheated - their agent had persuaded pupils at a dance school to send in dozens of votes.

Normally, they would have been disqualified and State Affair declared the winner.

But by then, the show was ending and the Oxford band were denied their chance of further stardom.

Half a century later, the band members are still active on the Oxford music scene.

Mick plays in a rock and roll band, Move It, with his son Anthony, while Mike Harris and Pete Myatt and Maureen and Marilyn perform as duos.

10:28am Monday 18th February 2008

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