Jim Bowen: You Can’t Beat A Bit of Bully: Pleasance Courtyard, Edinburgh, 2005
Jim Bowen: Look at What You Could Have Won: Udderbelly’s Pasture, Bristo Square, Edinburgh, 2008
One of the original Comedians (together with such luminaries as Frank Carson, Mike Read, Jim Davidson, Bernard Manning and Roy Walker) and long-running host of darts quiz Bullseye, comedian Jim Bowen has been popular with TV audiences for years. In 2005, Bowen appeared live at the Edinburgh Fringe with his show You Can’t Beat a Bit of Bully. Whilst I was in attendance, Bowen described his experiences appearing with Peter Kay in his very successful Armarillo music video for Comic Relief (which gave Bowen’s career and every other guest appearing in it a boost) and also of making Bullseye and then he played the game on stage with members of the audience. In 2008, Bowen returned to Edinburgh this time with a variety show incorporating the darts game.
Bowen has made a name for himself as a jovial host and comedian. He helped to create a lot of nostalgic memories for me growing up watching Bullseye on a Sunday teatime becoming enthralled with the contestant winning the big prize – usually and bafflingly a speedboat – whilst momentarily not thinking about school the next day. I was saddened to hear of Bowen’s passing in 2018.