JO BETH TAYLOR: THE TRUTH BOUT DARYL

THE PRESSURES OF STARRING ON HEY HEY HAS BONDED THE PAIR FOR LIFE

- Craig Bennett

Jo Beth Taylor will never forget the day Daryl Somers called with an offer to become his new co-host on Hey Hey It’s Saturday.

“I couldn’t believe it was Daryl on the phone, asking if I’d like to be his sidekick,” recalls Jo Beth, 50. “It was like winning the lottery, so of course I yelped ‘yes’ after recovering from the shock.”

Watching Hey Hey, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, was “compulsive viewing” in Jo Beth’s family when she was a girl, so getting to join the beloved show was a dream come true. “It was a blast to work on, and Daryl was exceptionally considerate and generous,” Jo Beth tells New Idea exclusively. “I got to sing regularly, interview legends like Robin Williams and Danny DeVito, and hang with the likes of Tom Jones, Sting, and Michael Jackson. Plus, Daryl trusted me to host the show when he was away.”

Perth-born Jo Beth, who began performing as a kid before finding fame in the ’90s as a singing sensation turned popular TV host, says the show was a career pinnacle.