The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Rector bid saw Dundee going Hoff the scale
MEMORIES: From Baywatch to Taywatch as students pushed star for university role
He was once the most watched television star on the planet.
Now, with a new Baywatch film just around the corner, minds in Dundee are turning back 15 years to when Knight Rider and Baywatch actor David Hasselhoff ended up on the ballot paper for the role of Dundee University’s next rector.
Students Benni Esposito and Graham Phillips – who were behind the audacious bid – dreamed of Hasselhoff giving surfing lessons on Broughty Ferry beach and his low-budget TV movies being shown in Dundee cinemas.
Within weeks Hoff Fever had taken off – there was a Knight Rider comedy show in a city pub and Benni even decided to audition on Stars in their Eyes as Hasselhoff.
Benni and Graham – whose stage names were Ben Darcy and Brandon Reed – were already up and coming stars on the UK comedy circuit.
In 2001 they launched the rector bid with Graham gathering votes whilst dressed in the star’s trademark leather jacket, tight jeans and chest hair.
They got enough nominations and Hasselhoff ended up on the ballot paper with Fred MacAulay, Richard Whitely, MSP Nick Johnston and Islamic academic Dr Abd-al-Fattah El-Awaisi.
There was speculation the whole thing was a hoax until Hasselhoff described the nomination as “a great personal honour” but one he eventually turned down due to his intensive work schedule.
The star had just started filming spinoff series Baywatch Hawaii but said he hoped to make a “one stop visit to Dundee to speak to the students”.
This prompted a £2,000 bid to persuade the star to perform at the campus during freshers’ week.
But the students were again left disappointed when Hasselhoff’s agent expressed little hope that he would ever visit the city.
That meant it was left to Graham to take on the star’s role when a Knight Rider comedy show took place to raise money for Morgan Academy which had been destroyed by fire and the show would eventually enjoy a run in London’s West End.
Things then went from the sublime to the ridiculous when Benni auditioned for TV talent show Stars In Their Eyes to further enhance the star’s connection with the city.
Looking back 15 years, Graham, who is originally from Perth, said: “It was a legendary time.
“Sadly Benni died in 2005 but the rector campaign brings back so many happy memories.
“It’s just a shame we didn’t manage to bring him over but Hoff Fever really did take off in 2001.”