Carroll Richard Levis (1910-1968) was a Canadian talent scout, impresario and radio and television broadcaster, mainly working in Britain. He had radio talent shows in Vancouver and Montreal before moving to England in 1935 where he and radio producer Eric Maschwitz developed popular touring stage shows to attract new talent. His touring stage shows attracted thousands of applicants from potential performers, and his first radio shows, Carroll Levis and his Discoveries were broadcast in 1936. The Radio Times reported the following year that ‘in the last two years [he] has heard thirty thousand people.’ During World War II he presented other programmes on BBC radio, including Carroll Levis Carries On, and toured military outposts in Europe and the Middle East. In 1945, he featured in a concert show entertaining troops of the first Canadian Army. After the end of the war, Levis continued with stage shows and radio broadcasts, including the Light Programme’s The Caroll Levis Show,1946, and Caroll Levis Discoveries,1948. Among the performers discovered by Levis were comedian and actor Jim Dale, comedian Barry Took, and actress Anne Heywood.

In 1953 The Carroll Levis Discovery Show moved to television, showcasing the talents of young people, with the catchphrase: ‘Truly, the discoveries of today are the stars of tomorrow’.