themed gameshow Bullseye was one of the most iconic TV programmes of the 80s and early 90s so it was no suprprise when announced they were reviving it – especially given the recent success of darts prodigy which has reignited interest in the sport.
With former England cricketer at the helm, and an appearance from Luke, the one off special tonight (Sunday November 22) is sure to bring memories flooding back for those who grew up watching the show. One person who sadly won’t be tuning in is the original host Jim Bowen who died in 2018 at the age of 80.
Fittingly his final TV appearance was on a show called Top Of The Box, hosted by Matthew Kelly, on which he discussed the legendary show.
Bullseye wasn’t Jim’s TV debut – he had made appearances on Granada’s stand up show The Comedians in the 70s – but it was the vehicle which turned him into a national treasure.
Nothing in his early life indicated he would become so beloved by the nation. Adopted at just nine months old by a hard working couple he failed his O-levels and worked as a dustman for a time before his National Service.
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Jim Bowen hosted Bullseye for 14 years from 1981 (Image: Publicity image)
While in the army he was sent on a Physical Training course to become an instructor, and following his discharge in 1957, he went on to become a PE teacher specialising in gymnastics. Eventually he became deputy headmaster of Caton Primary School near Lancaster.
He married his wife Phyllis in 1959 and they had two children. To all intents and purposes it looked like he was settling into a life in middle class suburbia.
However, he developed an interest in comedy and in the 60s he juggled stand up shows on the notoriously rough northern club circuit with his day job. Something had to give and he eventually commited to comedy full time.
His entertainment career took off and he even garnered acting roles. Bullseye came along in 1981 and quickly won a place in the nations hearts. It regularly had 15–20 million viewers in its Sunday evening slot, often even beating out in the ratings.
Despite the show’s success Jim, who had no presenting experience when he took on the role, self deprecatingly reflected he was “horrendous.”
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Jim Bowen’s last TV appearance was in a Channel 5 documentary series Top Of the Box (Image: Channel 5)
“I was horrendous. Believe me. I set the industry back 20 years,” he insisted on Top of the Box in 2018, over two decades after the show finsihed.
While he did indeed often flub his lines his catchphrases such as: “Keep out of the black and in the red; nothing in this game for two in a bed,” went the 80s equivlent of viral and his easygoing banter was a hit with the public.
He maintained a soft spot for the show after it was cancelled in 1994. In 2005, he performed a solo show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival called You Can’t Beat a Bit of Bully after one of his most famous lines on the show. He also often spoke about it on nostalgia documentaries.
Challenge also aired reruns of the show which brought him a whole new generation of fans and further cemented his national treasure status.
In early 2011, it was announced that he had suffered two mild strokes. Not one to let a little thing like that keep him down by 2012 he was recovering and regaining some mobility and even started performing his You Can’t Beat a Bit of Bully show again. Unfortunately he suffered a third stroke in November 2014, which left him struggling to walk and talk. He died on 14 March 2018, aged 80 with his wife at his bedside.