A SUPER SMASHIN' GREAT
Jim Bowen dead aged 80 – Bullseye host and comedian passes away
Bowen became a household name in the 1980s thanks to the cult darts gameshow and for his much-loved catchphrase 'you can't beat a bit of Bully'
BULLSEYE host Jim Bowen has died aged 80, his family announced today.
Bowen became a household name in the 1980s thanks to the cult darts gameshow and for his much-loved catchphrase "you can't beat a bit of Bully".
8
He passed away this morning with wife Phyllis by his side but it is not clear how Bowen, who had suffered several strokes over the years, died.
Darts stars have paid tribute to the much-loved TV presenter with Bobby George tweeting: ''RIP Jim Bowen! Thank you mate for the great Bullseye days we had so much fun. Super Magic Great!''
While Eric Bristow wrote: 'RIP Jim Bowen, I done [sic] every year of Bullseye and 10 xmas shows and had 15 days with him on the QE2.
''I played Darts in the afternoon and he played with his band at night, we had some late nights ha ha, Great memories #RIPJIMBOWEN.''
8
A former headmaster, born in Lancashire, he had started his career in the 1960s but found fame with the much-loved ITV show.
At its peak Bullseye enjoyed up to 20million viewers, with three sets of contestants made up of a ''knower'', who would answer general knowledge questions, and a ''thrower'', who would throw the darts, competing for prizes.
8
The show later became the butt of jokes for its often-impractical star prizes like speedboats or caravans.
Bowen delighted contestants and audiences alike with his friendly banter and catchphrases including: "Let's look at what you could have won."
There was also "BFH" — bus fare home, which was all people would get if they didn't win.
Bowen admitted getting the hosting job was "90 per cent luck", adding: "'I always said the game was the star. It was downmarket, but accessible. Joe Public could identify with my fallibilities.
"Game shows today are too high-tech with a £1 million prize. The nice thing about us was they were excited if they won a toaster. But that was 31 years ago when not every household had a toaster. People lose sight of that."
8
He presented the show from 1981 to 1995, before turning his hand to radio where he ran a live morning programme on BBC Radio Lancashire from 1999 to 2003.
John Clayton, Editor of Radio Lancashire told The Sun Online: “Every day was a joy as he took our listeners on a radio adventure where no-one was ever quite sure about the destination, least of all Jim.
Former Bullseye host and comedian Jim Bowen dies at 80
"Sketches, competitions, interviews and even ‘talent’ shows, Jim handled them all in his unique, irreverent and delightfully shambolic way, but his humanity and his love of life and the people of Lancashire always shone through.
“In an interview to mark his 80th birthday, Jim said that the years spent on the Happy Daft Farm were the best and happiest of his long career in entertainment and all of us at BBC Radio Lancashire were delighted and proud to share them with him. Our thoughts are with Phyllis, Pete and Sue.”
8
Bullseye's Jim Bowen introduces George Best playing darts for charity
Jim Bowen's most loved catchphrases
- "You can't beat a bit of Bully"
- "Let's have a look at what you could have won"
- "Super, smashing, great"
- "All for the throw of a dart"
- "Stay out of the black and into the red, nothing in this game for two in a bed"
- "You win nothing but your BFH...Bus Fare Home"
Bowen also enjoyed acting roles and appeared in Peter Kay's hit series, Phoenix Nights and in BBC drama Jonathan Creek.
But his health had suffered over the years and he had emphysema from his former 80 cigarettes-a-day habit, which he quit in 1973.
The star, who often enjoyed up to four pints a night at his local pub, had been battling with his health since 2011 after suffering two strokes.
In August 2015, Bowen feared he would never walk again after a third stroke that left him struggling to walk or talk.
He said at the time: "I'm still here. And I have had a good life. I'm struggling with my speech now and I am walking with a stick. But the people I meet are very caring."
8
Tributes have flooded in for the star, including from comedian Jim Davidson who took to Twitter to pay tribute, writing: 'RIP Jim Bowen. Great guy'
Boxer Frank Bruno also paid his respects, tweeting: 'Jim Bowen RIP great comic we worked together many times had a lot of laughs together. Jim & Ken Dodd sad time for the entertainment industry.'
Family friend John Pleus told PA: "He passed away very peacefully, she was with him. We are all shedding a tear.
8
8
"I've known him since the Bullseye days.
"It wasn't completely unexpected, he's been ill for several weeks in hospital.
"The Royal Lancaster Infirmary were wonderful, we couldn't have asked for better.
"As with people getting on, Jim has had several strokes, one in 2011. Strokes just make you weaker and more susceptible to infections but we don't know what the cause of death will be."
A number of darts players offered their tributes on social media after news of the entertainer's death broke.
MOST READ IN NEWS
Keith Deller said: "So sad to hear the news of my friend Jim Bowen who passed away. I was very fortunate to go on Bullseye many times. It was great to be one of Jim's guests on his This is your life. He always made you very welcomed and he made bullseye the great show it was. RIP Jim."
And Kevin Painter tweeted: "Thanks for the memories Jim..even managed to grab a bendy bully from my time there.Super, smashing, great."
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368