12 Facts About Lena Zavaroni

Lena Hilda Zavaroni was a Scottish singer and television show host.

From age 13 Zavaroni suffered anorexia nervosa, and she developed clinical depression when she was 15.

Lena Zavaroni was born in Greenock, Renfrewshire, and grew up in the small town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute.

Lena Zavaroni was discovered in the summer of 1973 by record producer Tommy Scott, who was on holiday in Rothesay and heard her singing in a band with her father and uncle.

In 1974, Lena Zavaroni appeared on Opportunity Knocks and won the show for a record-breaking five weeks running.

Lena Zavaroni remains the youngest person to have an album in the top 10, having reached the position at 10 years, 146 days old.

Lena Zavaroni appeared on The Morecambe and Wise Show, the 29 May 1975 episode of The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club, in the 1976 Royal Variety Show and performed at the White House for US President Gerald Ford.

Lena Zavaroni blamed this on the pressure placed upon her to fit into costumes while at the same time "developing as a woman".

Lena Zavaroni underwent drug treatments and received electroconvulsive therapy in an attempt to end her depression.

Lena Zavaroni begged doctors to operate on her to relieve her depression.

In September 1999, Lena Zavaroni was admitted to University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff for the psychosurgical operation.

Lena Zavaroni's funeral took place at the Roman Catholic Church of St Augustine in Hoddesdon on 15 October 1999, and she was buried later that day at Hoddesdon Cemetery in Hertfordshire.