Acting
Jim Bowen
Born August 20, 1937 · Heswall, Cheshire, England, UK
Died March 14, 2018 · aged 80
James Brown Whittaker, known professionally as Jim Bowen, was an English stand-up comedian, actor and television personality. He was the long-time host of the ITV game show Bullseye, which he presented from its beginning in 1981 through to the end of its original run in 1995.
Known For
Happy Since I Met You · 1981Happy Since I Met You
★ 8.01981
MovieDramaRomance
A play by Victoria Wood. Frances is 28, single and happy, despite ritual interrogation from her family as to why she's not married. Then she meets Jim, and finds she has decisions to make.
Cinderella: The Shoe Must Go On · 1986Cinderella: The Shoe Must Go On
★ 4.01986
MovieComedyFamily
Danny La Rue plays Cinderella's wicked stepmother in this grand tradition of a Christmas pantomime.
Jim Bowen: You Can't Tell These Anymore! · 2003Jim Bowen: You Can't Tell These Anymore!
2003
MovieComedy
Filmed at the Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn. Jim's stand-up is a rollercoaster of side-splitting gags and riotous tales.
You Can't Beat a Bit of Bully · 2015You Can't Beat a Bit of Bully
2015
MovieDocumentary
Narrated by comedian Paddy McGuinness, here is a documentary celebrating 35 years of Bullseye featuring the hosts Jim Bowen and Tony Green with celebrity guests Linda Lusardi, Nick Hancock, Anne Diamond, David Baddiel, Katy Brand, Gary Wilmot, Frank Bruno, Tessa Sanderson and legendary dart players John Lowe, Eric Bristow and Bobby George.
The Gameshow Serial Killer: Police Tapes · 2018The Gameshow Serial Killer: Police Tapes
2018
MovieDocumentary
Susanna Reid explores a cold case enquiry into one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers. The film reveals the extraordinary game of cat and and mouse that Pembrokeshire detectives waged against the man they suspected had brutally murdered at least four people. He had eluded them for 20 years, but how would new forensics methods, and a fresh team of local detectives, now crack a case that had twice run cold?
This Is Your Life · 1955This Is Your Life
★ 6.71955
SeriesDocumentary
This is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64. Michael Aspel then took up the role of host until the show ended in 2003. It returned in 2007 as a one-off special presented by Trevor McDonald, which to date was its most recent airing.
In the show the host surprises a special guest, before taking them through their life with the assistance of the 'big red book'. Both celebrities and non-celebrities have been 'victims' of the show. The show was originally broadcast live, and over its run it has alternated between being broadcast on the BBC and on ITV.
Last of the Summer Wine · 1973Last of the Summer Wine
★ 7.11973
SeriesComedy
Unencumbered by wives, jobs or any other responsibilities, three senior citizens who've never really grown up explore their world in the Yorkshire Dales. They spend their days speculating about their fellow townsfolk and thinking up adventures not usually favored by the elderly. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse in 1973. The show ran for 295 episodes until 2010. It is the longest running comedy Britain has produced and the longest running sitcom in the world.
Soccer AM · 1995Soccer AM
★ 6.31995
SeriesComedy
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League. Originally presented by Jane Hoffen, Gary Stevens and Russ Williams, they lasted just a year before Helen Chamberlain and Tim Lovejoy replaced them, where Lovejoy served for over a decade. He has since been replaced by Andy Goldstein and, more recently, Max Rushden. The show has been aired on Sky Sports 2 each Saturday morning of the football season since 1995 from 7:00am or 9:00am to noon originally and currently between 10:00am and 12:00pm. In early 2009, the 500th episode was broadcast. Although the show is filmed live from 2010 it has been broadcast on a momentary delay due to bad language and/or inappropriate content from certain guests.
The show's current sponsor is Procter & Gamble through their Head & Shoulders brand. The show was previously sponsored by Frijj, a brand of milkshake, after Dairy Crest signed a £2 million sponsorship deal.
Parts of the show have remained since the beginning, whilst new items have been introduced each season. In that respect, it is almost the same every week, the difference being new football footage and comedy skits. Every week sees a new group of celebrity guests, generally featuring at least one footballer who is free on the Saturday, and a mix of musicians, TV personalities, and other sportsmen.
Movies
Happy Since I Met You · 1981Happy Since I Met You
★ 8.01981
MovieDramaRomance
A play by Victoria Wood. Frances is 28, single and happy, despite ritual interrogation from her family as to why she's not married. Then she meets Jim, and finds she has decisions to make.
Cinderella: The Shoe Must Go On · 1986Cinderella: The Shoe Must Go On
★ 4.01986
MovieComedyFamily
Danny La Rue plays Cinderella's wicked stepmother in this grand tradition of a Christmas pantomime.
Jim Bowen: You Can't Tell These Anymore! · 2003Jim Bowen: You Can't Tell These Anymore!
2003
MovieComedy
Filmed at the Thwaites Empire Theatre, Blackburn. Jim's stand-up is a rollercoaster of side-splitting gags and riotous tales.
You Can't Beat a Bit of Bully · 2015You Can't Beat a Bit of Bully
2015
MovieDocumentary
Narrated by comedian Paddy McGuinness, here is a documentary celebrating 35 years of Bullseye featuring the hosts Jim Bowen and Tony Green with celebrity guests Linda Lusardi, Nick Hancock, Anne Diamond, David Baddiel, Katy Brand, Gary Wilmot, Frank Bruno, Tessa Sanderson and legendary dart players John Lowe, Eric Bristow and Bobby George.
The Gameshow Serial Killer: Police Tapes · 2018The Gameshow Serial Killer: Police Tapes
2018
MovieDocumentary
Susanna Reid explores a cold case enquiry into one of Britain’s most prolific serial killers. The film reveals the extraordinary game of cat and and mouse that Pembrokeshire detectives waged against the man they suspected had brutally murdered at least four people. He had eluded them for 20 years, but how would new forensics methods, and a fresh team of local detectives, now crack a case that had twice run cold?
TV Shows
This Is Your Life · 1955This Is Your Life
★ 6.71955
SeriesDocumentary
This is Your Life is a British biographical television documentary, based on the 1952 American show of the same name. It was hosted by Eamonn Andrews from 1955 until 1964, and then from 1969 until his death in 1987 aged 64. Michael Aspel then took up the role of host until the show ended in 2003. It returned in 2007 as a one-off special presented by Trevor McDonald, which to date was its most recent airing.
In the show the host surprises a special guest, before taking them through their life with the assistance of the 'big red book'. Both celebrities and non-celebrities have been 'victims' of the show. The show was originally broadcast live, and over its run it has alternated between being broadcast on the BBC and on ITV.
Last of the Summer Wine · 1973Last of the Summer Wine
★ 7.11973
SeriesComedy
Unencumbered by wives, jobs or any other responsibilities, three senior citizens who've never really grown up explore their world in the Yorkshire Dales. They spend their days speculating about their fellow townsfolk and thinking up adventures not usually favored by the elderly. Last of the Summer Wine premiered as an episode of Comedy Playhouse in 1973. The show ran for 295 episodes until 2010. It is the longest running comedy Britain has produced and the longest running sitcom in the world.
Soccer AM · 1995Soccer AM
★ 6.31995
SeriesComedy
Soccer AM is a British Saturday-morning football-based comedy/talk show, predominantly based around the Premier League. Originally presented by Jane Hoffen, Gary Stevens and Russ Williams, they lasted just a year before Helen Chamberlain and Tim Lovejoy replaced them, where Lovejoy served for over a decade. He has since been replaced by Andy Goldstein and, more recently, Max Rushden. The show has been aired on Sky Sports 2 each Saturday morning of the football season since 1995 from 7:00am or 9:00am to noon originally and currently between 10:00am and 12:00pm. In early 2009, the 500th episode was broadcast. Although the show is filmed live from 2010 it has been broadcast on a momentary delay due to bad language and/or inappropriate content from certain guests.
The show's current sponsor is Procter & Gamble through their Head & Shoulders brand. The show was previously sponsored by Frijj, a brand of milkshake, after Dairy Crest signed a £2 million sponsorship deal.
Parts of the show have remained since the beginning, whilst new items have been introduced each season. In that respect, it is almost the same every week, the difference being new football footage and comedy skits. Every week sees a new group of celebrity guests, generally featuring at least one footballer who is free on the Saturday, and a mix of musicians, TV personalities, and other sportsmen.
Jonathan Creek · 1997Jonathan Creek
★ 7.61997
SeriesMysteryComedy
Working from his home in a converted windmill, Jonathan Creek is a magician with a natural ability for solving puzzles. He soon puts this ability to the use of solving impossible crimes and mysterious murders.
The Upper Hand · 1990The Upper Hand
★ 7.21990
SeriesComedy
The Upper Hand is a British television sitcom, produced by Central Independent Television and Columbia Pictures Television and broadcast by ITV from 1990 to 1996. The programme was adapted from the American sitcom Who's the Boss?.
As in the former series, an affluent single woman, raising a son with the help of her mother, hires a housekeeper only to have a man apply for the job.
Bullseye · 1981Bullseye
★ 7.61981
Series
Bullseye was a popular British television programme. It was first made for the ITV network by ATV in 1981, then by Central from 1982 until 1995, and was hosted by Jim Bowen.
Noel's House Party · 1991Noel's House Party
★ 7.41991
Series
Noel's House Party is a BBC television light entertainment show hosted by Noel Edmonds that was broadcast live on Saturday evenings throughout the 1990s. It was set in a large house in the fictional village of Crinkley Bottom, leading to much innuendo. The show was broadcast during the autumn-spring season. It was the successor show to Noel's Saturday Roadshow, and carried over some of its regular features such as the Gunge Tank, the Gotcha Oscar and Wait 'Till I Get You Home. In 2010, Noel's House Party was voted the best Saturday night TV show of all time.
The show had many regular guests posing as fictional villagers, including Frank Thornton and Vicki Michelle. The show gave birth to Mr. Blobby in the Gotcha segment. The character became well known, ruining the premise of the segment, but Blobby still made appearances. There was also a contrived rivalry between Noel and Tony Blackburn. In addition, many episodes featured one-off guest stars, including Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer, who came in to find the whole audience dressed as Frank after Fantastic Stuart Henderson from Troon had performed as Frank singing The Beatles song "I Saw Her Standing There", and Ken Dodd in a highwayman's outfit - 'Going cheap at the Maxwell sale' - as Noel's long lost 'twin', Berasent.
The Paul Daniels Magic Show · 1979The Paul Daniels Magic Show
★ 7.71979
SeriesFamily
A British magic show and variety show that aired on BBC1 from 9 June 1979 to 18 June 1994. Daniels' assistant throughout the series was Debbie McGee, whom he married in 1988. At its peak in the 1980s, the show regularly attracted viewing figures of 15 million and was sold to 43 countries.
Sooty & Co. · 1993Sooty & Co.
★ 7.21993
SeriesComedy
Second incarnation of the childrens puppet show, picking up almost directly where "The Sooty show" left off Sooty, Sweep, Soo and little cousin Scampi continue their adventures with Matthew.
The Comedians · 1971The Comedians
★ 7.01971
SeriesComedy
The comedians is a British television show of the 1970s produced by Johnnie Hamp of Granada Television. The show gave a stage to nightclub and working men's club comedians of the era, including Russ Abbot, Lennie Bennett, Stan Boardman, Jim Bowen, Jimmy Bright, Duggie Brown, Mike Burton, Dave Butler, Brian Carroll, Frank Carson, Mike Coyne, Jimmy Cricket, Colin Crompton, Pauline Daniels, Charlie Daze, Vince Earl, Steve Faye, Eddie Flanagan, Stu Francis, Ken Goodwin, Jackie Hamilton, Jerry Harris, George King, Bobby Knutt, Bernard Manning, Mike McCabe, Paul Melba, Mick Miller, Hal Nolan, Tom O'Connor, Tom Pepper, Bryn Phillips, Mike Reid, George Roper, Harry Scott, Sammy Thomas, Johnny Wager, Roy Walker, Charlie Williams, Lee Wilson and Lenny Windsor.
Also featured on the TV show, were Shep's Banjo Boys, a 7-piece band comprising Charlie Bentley, John Drury, Andy Holdorf, John Orchard, John Rollings, Graham Shepherd and Howard Shepherd. In 1973, the line up was Mike Dexter, Tony "Tosh" Kennedy, Ged Martin, Tony Pritchard, Graham Shepherd and Howard "Shep" Shepherd.
Harry Hill's TV Burp · 2002Harry Hill's TV Burp
★ 6.32002
SeriesComedy
The big-collared comic gives his own spin on TV clips from recent programmes, plus contributions from a set of regular characters
The Afternoon Play · 2003The Afternoon Play
★ 6.52003
SeriesDramaComedy
The Afternoon Play is a British television anthology series of standalone contemporary dramas aired during the afternoons of 2003–07 on BBC One, featuring well-known actors in one-off stories. A daytime drama strand showcasing a variety of genres, from comedy to mystery, it was part of a long tradition of afternoon plays on BBC Radio 4, which would go on to influence the television version.
Cluedo · 1990Cluedo
★ 6.81990
SeriesCrimeDrama
Cluedo was a UK television game show based on the board game of the same name. Each week, a reenactment of the murder at the stately home Arlington Grange of a visiting guest was played and, through a combination of interrogating the suspects and deduction, celebrity guests had to discover who committed the murder, which of six weapons and in which room it was committed, whilst viewers were invited to play along at home.
Phoenix Nights · 2001Phoenix Nights
★ 8.02001
SeriesComedy
The owner of The Phoenix Club is the wheelchair-bound Brian Potter, who has presided over two clubs in the past: the first (The Aquarius) flooded, the second (The Neptune) burned down. His ambition (with the help of Jerry St Clair) is to see The Phoenix Club become the most popular in Bolton and thus outdo his arch-nemesis, Den Perry, owner of rival club The Banana Grove.
The Pembrokeshire Murders · 2021The Pembrokeshire Murders
★ 6.82021
SeriesCrimeDrama
Detective superintendent reopens two unsolved murder cases from the 1980s. Forensic methods link the crimes to a string of burglaries. Steve's team has to find more evidence before the perpetrator is released from prison.
Sports Life Stories · 2012Sports Life Stories
2012
SeriesDocumentary
Sporting legends speak honestly and candidly about their careers, giving a fascinating insight into the mindset required to reach the very top of their game.
The Alphabet Game · 1996The Alphabet Game
1996
Series
Muck and Brass · 1982Muck and Brass
★ 6.31982
SeriesDrama
The story of a no-holds-barred, go-getting property dealer played by celebrated comedian Mel Smith, who has the view that everyone has a price though the price may not always be money.
Michael Barrymore's Saturday Night Out · 1988Michael Barrymore's Saturday Night Out
★ 9.01988
SeriesComedyFamily
A BBC variety entertainment summer series, for the first season presented from The Fort Regent Leisure Centre, Jersey and from The Dominion Theatre in London's Tottenham Court Road for the second.