Jim Bowen (born Peter Williams [1] on 20 August 1937) is an English stand-up comedian and TV personality. He is best-known as the host of the ITV gameshow Bullseye, which he hosted between 1981 and 1995.Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Beginnings in showbusiness 3 Bullseye 4 Other television work 5 Radio 6 One-man show 7 Return to radio 8 References 9 External links
[edit] Early life
Bowen was born in Heswall in Cheshire and educated at Accrington Grammar School in Lancashire and Chester Diocesan Training College. He was then a teacher at schools in Lancashire and became deputy headmaster of Caton Primary School near Lancaster.[1] [edit] Beginnings in showbusiness
While teaching he became involved with the local dramatic society which kindled his interest in showbusiness. In the 1960s he worked part-time as a stand-up comedian on the northern club circuit, balancing his comedy career with his day job as a teacher.[1] The advent of Granada TV’s The Comedians gave Jim the opportunity to appear on national television which ultimately helped persuade him to become a full-time entertainer.
Television opportunities followed and Jim made appearances on Granada’s The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club as well as Thames Television’s late-night chat show Take Two.[1] [edit] Bullseye
In 1981, Bowen was appointed presenter of a new ITV gameshow Bullseye The format, devised by Andrew Wood, mixed general knowledge questions with darts. The show quickly became a popular feature of ITV's schedules early on Sunday evenings, and ran for 14 years until it ended in 1995.[2] Bowen was the presenter throughout, and several of the catchphrases he used on the programme became well-known. [edit] Other television work
Bowen has also appeared in TV dramas and comedies. He played a crooked accountant in ITV's 1982 drama Muck and Brass, and later guest starred in BBC1's Jonathan Creek and Channel 4's Phoenix Nights.[1]
He also appeared on an episode of The Weakest Link in 2006, but lost the play-off to British radio personality Iain Lee. [edit] Radio
In 1999, Bowen began presenting on BBC Radio Lancashire but after working there for three years, resigned after referring to a female guest on his show as a "nig-nog". He admitted that, even though he apologised for the remark almost immediately, he believed his showbusiness career was over.[3] [edit] One-man show
Bowen returned to the limelight in 2005, when he performed a solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe about Bullseye, called "You Can't Beat a Bit of Bully". He returned to Edinburgh in the summer of 2006 performing at ‘Jongleurs’ from 8 to 28 August. He now takes this package around smaller theatres. [edit] Return to radio
Bowen can now be heard presenting a mid-morning radio show on 106.6 Indigo FM in Cumbria.[4]
