As a young schoolboy, David Essex dreamed of becoming a professional
footballer, and was signed up by his beloved West Ham United, but as a
teenager he developed a passion for music which set him on a very
different path, and ultimately led to superstardom. It wasn't, however,
an easy start. Scraping a living on the edges of show business was a
hard slog, and he endured many disappointments. Then aged 23, he went
along to an audition for a new musical called "Godspell" and won the
role of Jesus that was to shoot him to fame. Within a year he was
starring in the smash hit film, "That'll Be the Day," and had written
and recorded his first number one single "Rock On." It was the start of
Essex Mania, and a long journey of undreamt of adventure. From "Godspell
"to "EastEnders "it's been an amazing life. And here is David's full
incredible story, in his own words.