The Jimmy Tarbuck Show: The Leisure Centre, Kendal, 1993
Des O’Connor and Jimmy Tarbuck: London Palladium, London, 2015
Legendary comedian Jimmy Tarbuck was born in Liverpool in 1940. He went to primary school with John Lennon and knew and became great friends with Cilla Black when she worked at The Cavern Club where the Beatles regularly played. After a stint as a Butlins Redcoat, Tarbuck made his television debut in 1963 in Comedy Bandbox. He made regular appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium and he was presenter of the during the early sixties and became its resident host in 1965. His actress daughter Liza was born in 1964 and as he became more popular, he got his own show in 1968 and he became the presenter of Winner Takes All, a popular gambling ITV quiz show which ran for twelve years from 1975. In 1994, he was given an OBE for services to comedy and charity.
I saw Tarbuck star in his touring show when I went with my dad to the Kendal Leisure Centre in 1993. I remember his quirky enthusiasm, chirpiness, his famous laugh and grin and watched in awe as he released joke after joke in quick fire succession.
I saw him again years later in 2015 where he appeared with fellow legendary entertainer Des O’Connor at the London Palladium. Again, determined to make the audience laugh the star was sprightly and very funny with stories about his long career.