Jim Bowen
Contents |
Shows
The Comedy Quiz (team captain)
The Golden Shot (2007 Gameshow Marathon special) as "Bowen The Bolt"
Biography
Arguably one of the least likely game show hosts of all time, Bowen 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). Somehow, he landed the job of hosting Bullseye. His catchphrase "Super, smashing, great" (which, like Barry Norman's "And, why not?", he never said himself) was acquired after failing to pay attention to a contestant who said he was unemployed.
His stand-up comedy and 14 years of Bullseye filled out the bulk of his peak fame, although he turned up as a guest on other shows from time to time, as well as present radio shows.
Jim passed away on 14 March 2018, aged 80.
Trivia
Bowen was a schoolteacher, rising to the rank of deputy head, 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. He also had a non-speaking cameo on Jonathan Creek and was an accountant in the 1982 comedy-drama "Muck and Brass", which also starred Mel Smith.
He appeared on the one-off Vernon Kay-hosted edition of The Golden Shot, screened in 2007 as part of ITV's Gameshow Marathon as "Bowen The Bolt".
