Jim Bowen
Biography
Arguably one of the least likely game show hosts of all time. He first came to fame through appearing on ITV's The Comedians, and somehow landed the job of hosting Bullseye despite an expletive-laden pilot show (clips of which appeared on Victor Lewis-Smith's TV Offal and are no doubt out there in cyberspace for anyone who's interested). His catchphrase "Super. Smashing. Great." (which, like Barry Norman's "And, why not?", he never says himself) was acquired after failing to pay attention to a contestant who said he was unemployed.
Hasn't done much else of note, but Bullseye ran for years and years and he does turn up as a guest on other shows from time to time.
Trivia
Bowen was a schoolteacher before breaking into the world of comedy.
He made at least two cameo appearances on "Last Of The Summer Wine" (one of them as a security guard) and also on ITV's popular 1970's-set comedy "The Grimleys" as a militant union rep.
Books / Tapes
