Skip to main content

Jim Bowen, who presented the cult darts-based game show Bullseye, has died at the age of 80.

New post

Video:Bowen in action on Bullseye

Jim Bowen, who presented the cult darts-based game show Bullseye, has died at the age of 80.
Family friend John Plews told Sky News that Bowen died on Wednesday morning with his wife Phyllis by his side.
"He passed away very peacefully, she was with him. We are all shedding a tear. It wasn't completely unexpected, he's been ill for several weeks in hospital," he said.
Bowen achieved cult status in Bullseye, a game show where contestants threw darts and answered basic general knowledge questions to progress.


His catchphrases, such as "super, smashing, great", "let's see what you could have won" and "you can't beat a bit of Bully" made him a household name.
The show, which ran between 1981 and 1995, was watched by over 12 million viewers, and was especially popular among students.
Jim Bowen shares a joke with fellow comedy greats, Roy 'Chubby' Brown and Frank Carson at the funeral of another comedian Bernard Manning in 2007
Image:Jim Bowen shares a joke with fellow comedy greats, Roy 'Chubby' Brown and Frank Carson at the funeral of another comedian, Bernard Manning, in 2007
It attracted a peak audience of almost 19 million viewers on Boxing Day 1989.
Born Peter Williams in Heswall on the Wirral in 1937, Bowen was adopted as a baby by Annie and Joe Whittaker from Clayton-le-Moors, Lancashire, taking the name James Whittaker.
At 15 years old, having left Accrington Grammar School, he worked as a dustman in Blackburn for a short time and completed national service before becoming a PE teacher.

At training college, he met his future wife Phyllis and they married in 1959. They later had two children, Susan and Peter.
Jim Bowen was honorary president of Morecambe FC. here he is pictured with the FA Cup before a tie against Ipswich in 2001
Image:Jim Bowen was honorary president of Morecambe FC and is pictured with the FA Cup before a tie against Ipswich in 2001
He rose to become a deputy headmaster but a stint in amateur dramatics gave him a thirst for being on stage.
In the 1960s he switched careers and took up stand-up comedy under the stage name Jim Bowen and soon ended up performing on television.
As well as Bullseye, Bowen also had a number of TV acting roles, including in Last Of The Summer Wine, Muck And Brass, Jonathan Creek, The Grimleys, and the second series of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights.
He also presented a morning show on BBC Radio Lancashire from 1999 to 2003.
In 2011, Bowen, also known as Alf in the Tetley Bitter adverts, said he had learned to "appreciate all the things in life" after suffering two strokes.
In 2005, 2007 and 2008, he appeared at The Edinburgh Festival, with a show featuring tales about his time in show business and Bullseye stories.

Comments

TRENDING

Raspberry Macarons

Japanese boneless chicken recipes

How to prepare Skillet Chicken With Black Beans, Rice and Chiles

Silken Tofu With Brothy Thai Curry and Herbs

Wondering something to Eat "Bacon Explosion"

Davido’s “Blow My Mind” Breaks Record, Hit 1 Million Views In 11 Hours!

First Republican Congressman to Officiate a Gay Wedding

Are You A vegetarian? This is what you Need " Vegetarian Mushroom Wellington"

Popular posts from this blog

Raspberry Macarons

  Raspberry Macarons Time : About 2 ½ hours, plus at least 24 hours chilling These macarons' recipe include a little amount of finely chopped freeze-dried raspberries, which lends an unexpected tart fruitiness. Just keep in mind that it can also encourage the shells to brown very rapidly, so if the first batch starts to get a little golden, lower the oven's temperature for the second batch by around 25 degrees. Also try the Chocolate Macarons  INGREDIENTS Yield: 23 macarons FOR THE BATTER 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons/130 grams confectioners’ sugar ¾ cup/85 grams superfine blanched almond flour ½ cup/14 grams freeze-dried raspberries Lemon wedge (optional), for cleaning bowl 3 large egg whites (90 grams), at room temperature ½ teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) 6 tablespoons/75 grams granulated sugar Red gel food coloring (optional) FOR THE FILLING 4 ounces white chocolate, finely chopped 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Pinch of kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal) ⅓  ...

Japanese boneless chicken recipes

 Yakitori-Style Zucchini With Scallions and  Salmon Yakitori is a Japanese dish where boneless chicken pieces prepared with salt (shio) and a soy seasoning sauce (tare) are strung onto bamboo sticks and barbecued over a charcoal fire. This weeknight feast acquires the kinds of conventional yakitori and applies it to salmon and vegetables. A pungent sweet sauce of soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, garlic and ginger serves as a coating and serving sauce. Prepared with greens, the extra salmon and vegetables make a decent serving of mixed greens the following day, and the sauce keeps in the cooler for as long as seven days. Brush it onto chicken or pork cleaves prior to broiling, or use it to prepare your next wipe out-the-cooler singed rice. INGREDIENTS   ¼ cup canola oil, plus more for greasing 1 tablespoon minced garlic (from about 3 cloves) 1 tablespoon minced ginger (from a 1-inch piece) ⅔ cup low-sodium soy sauce ⅓ cup turbinado sugar 2 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar 2 t...

How to prepare Skillet Chicken With Black Beans, Rice and Chiles

  Skillet Chicken With Black Beans, Rice and Chiles TIME: 1 hour  This authentic one-pot marvel of chicken, black beans, rice, tomatoes, and chiles, adapted from Diana Henry's "From the Oven to the Table: Simple Dishes That Look After Themselves," will please everyone at the table. The cumin-infused rice soaks up all the luscious juices as the chicken thighs roast. The rice and chicken are both nicely cooked when the timer goes off. Use a 12-inch skillet for this recipe; any other size could lead to undercooked or overdone chicken or rice. If you have any leftovers, they taste fantastic in tacos or enchiladas. INGREDIENTS Yield: 4 to 6 servings 8 bone-in, skin-on chicken thighs Flaky sea salt and black pepper 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil or peanut oil 1 large yellow or white onion, chopped 2 green or red bell peppers, halved, seeded and sliced 2½ cups chicken stock 2 red Fresno chiles or jalapeƱos, halved, seeded and chopped 1(3-inch)  cinnamon stick, broken in ha...

Silken Tofu With Brothy Thai Curry and Herbs

Sconty empire  A jarred red curry paste is the central flavor of this wonderfully restorative and nourishing broth. Coconut milk lends a subtle creaminess, and the cherry tomatoes become bright little jammy bursts. You can use fresh tomatoes when in season, but canned tomatoes do just as well. Ladle the piping hot broth over seasoned tofu pieces and fresh herbs: The delicate silken tofu used here will absorb big flavors from the surrounding liquid. RECIPES 2   (14-ounce) packages silken tofu, drained 2   tablespoons neutral oil, such as grapeseed 2   shallots, peeled and minced 3   garlic cloves, peeled and sliced 1   (1-inch) piece ginger, scrubbed and grated 3   tablespoons red curry paste 1   (14-ounce) can cherry tomatoes or fresh cherry tomatoes 1   quart vegetable stock 1   (13.5-ounce) can full-fat coconut milk   Salt ¼   cup soy sauce   Freshly ground black pepper 1 ½   cups mixed fresh herbs, such as cilantro...