Jim Bowen

Image:Bowen_jim_grimace.jpg

Contents

Shows

Bullseye

The Comedy Quiz (team captain)

Home Run

The Golden Shot (2007 Gameshow Marathon special) as "Bowen The Bolt"

Biography

Arguably one of the least likely game show hosts of all time. He first came to fame through appearing first on ITV's The Comedians, then on the 1970's ITV children's series "You Must Be Joking" (not to be confused with the Terry Wogan-hosted show of the same name) - 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

Jim Bowen Live


Web links

Wikipedia entry

Internet Movie Database entry

BBC interview

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