Original Bullseye host Jim Bowen – a huge presentation error that leads to a sad death | Television and radio

Darts-themed game show Bullseye was one of the most iconic TV programs of the ’80s and early ’90s, so it was no surprise when ITV announced they were relaunching it – especially considering given the recent success of darts prodigy Luke Littler which has reignited interest in the sport.

With former England cricketer Freddie Flintoff at the helm and an appearance from Luke, tonight’s special (Sunday 22 November) is sure to bring back memories for those who grew up watching the show. One person who sadly won’t be tuning in is original host Jim Bowen, who died in 2018 at the age of 80.

Fittingly, his final television appearance was on a Channel 5 show called Top Of The Box, hosted by Matthew Kelly, in which he discussed the legendary show.

Bullseye wasn’t Jim’s TV debut – he’d made appearances on Granada stand-up show The Comedians in the ’70s – but it was the vehicle that made him a national treasure.

Nothing in his youth indicated that he would become so beloved by the nation. Adopted at just nine months old by a hard-working couple, he failed his A-levels and worked as a garbage collector for a time before his national service.

While in the army he was sent on a physical training course to become an instructor, and after his discharge in 1957 he became a physical education teacher specializing in gymnastics. Eventually he became deputy headteacher at Caton Primary School, near Lancaster.

He married Phyllis in 1959 and they had two children. For all intents and purposes, it seemed like he was settling into a middle-class suburban life.

However, he developed an interest in comedy, and in the 1960s he juggled stand-up performances on the notoriously difficult Northern club circuit with his day job. Something must have given and he finally committed to acting full time.

His entertainment career took off and he even landed acting roles. Bullseye appeared in 1981 and quickly earned a place in the nations hearts. It regularly had 15 to 20 million viewers in its Sunday evening slot, often even beating Coronation Street in the ratings.

Despite the success of the series, Jim, who had no presenting experience when he took on the role, belittled himself by saying he was “horrible”.

“I was horrible. Believe me. I set the industry back 20 years,” he insisted on Top of the Box in 2018, more than two decades after the show ended.

Although he indeed often botched his lines, his slogans such as: “Stay away from black and red; nothing in this game of two in a bed”, became the equivalent of the 80s virus and its casual jokes were a hit with the public. public.

He retained a soft spot for the show after its cancellation in 1994. In 2005, he had a solo exhibition at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival called You Can’t Beat a Bit of Bully, based on one of his most famous lines of the series. He also often talked about it in nostalgic documentaries.

Challenge also aired reruns of the show, which brought him a whole new generation of fans and further cemented his status as a national treasure.

In early 2011, it was announced that he had suffered two mild strokes. Not one to let a little thing like that get him down. By 2012, he was recovering and regaining some mobility and even began performing his show You Can’t Beat a Bit of Bully again. Unfortunately, he suffered a third stroke in November 2014, which left him unable to walk and talk. He died on March 14, 2018, at the age of 80, with his wife at his bedside.