Jim Bowen has died

[roving-eye]

Broadcaster and comedian Jim Bowen, best known for hosting darts-based game show Bullseye in the 1980s and '90s, has died at the age of 80.

His wife Phyllis confirmed the news to BBC Radio Lancashire.

The former deputy headmaster, who lived in North Lancashire, began his career as a stand-up comedian on the club circuit in the 1960s.

He became a household name when he began presenting Bullseye in 1981. The Sunday tea time show ran for 14 years.

It attracted 17.5 million viewers at its peak and involved three pairs of contestants - with a "thrower", who would throw the darts, and a "knower", who would answer general knowledge questions.


Bullseye's prizes included cars and speedboats
Bowen became known for catchphrases including "Super, smashing, great", "You can't beat a bit of Bully!" and "Let's look at what you could have won".

Another favourite phrase - "keep out of the black and in to the red, nothing in this game for two in a bed" - referred to the segments of the darts board that the players had to hit.

His warm-hearted and quick-witted rapport with the contestants was a big part of the show's appeal.

Bowen became Bullseye host after appearing on ITV show The Comedians, alongside the likes of Frank Carson, Russ Abbott and Bernard Manning.

He also had a number of TV acting roles, including in Muck and Brass, Jonathan Creek, The Grimleys, and as Hoss Cartwright in the second series of Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights.

[whiplash]

RIP Jim.
Funny thing is I was watching an old show of his a few days ago,,,,,those star prizes look really naff now.

[said]

[QUOTE=roving-eye;6630874]Broadcaster and comedian Jim Bowen, best known for hosting darts-based game show Bullseye in the 1980s and '90s, has died at the age of 80.



He came over as a really nice, natural guy - I really liked him.

[toothache]

[QUOTE=said
He came over as a really nice, natural guy - I really liked him.[/QUOTE]

So did I. I remember looking forward to Bullseye. He was entertaining and quick witted without the arrogance of some current less talented presenters.

[gazaprop]

....and it'll take me till the end of this commercial break to write an epitaph.

[Steed]

I met him quite a few times, we used to have a holiday home neat Kirby Lonsdale and at the time Jim lived in an old railway station at Arkholme and also had the Redwell Inn with his wife Phylis.

We often dined and drank in the Redwell Inn, Jim would often come over and chat with his customers, he was a very funny man and a true gentleman.

RIP

[grassroots]

another ledgend has gone RIP .

[carliol]

I met him on the old QE2 cruise ship where he did a version of Bullseye and also a lunchtime quiz. He would take the mickey (in a nice way) out of some of the participants and his shows were very popular.

He was a regular with Cunard for a while, but I think he moved to another cruise line. A lovely man and sadly missed