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Jimmy Tarbuck
JIMMY TARBUCK, known affectionately as 'Tarby' is one of Britain's favourite comics and has a television career spanning over forty years. Today, he can often be found either on the golf course or entertaining corporate audiences at gala dinners and award ceremonies with his quick wit and charismatic personality.
How it all happened...
The son of a bookmaker, Jimmy Tarbuck was born in Liverpool in 1940. At the age of 18, he became a Redcoat for Butlins holiday camp. A few years later, when he was 22, that he was spotted by the late Val Parnell and made his TV debut on Comedy Bandbox. He made several guest appearances on Sunday Night at the London Palladium for Val Parnell until he became the resident compere in September 1965.
He went on to have other hit series such as The Jimmy Tarbuck Show and It’s Tarbuck both for ATV, and Tarbuck’s Luck for BBC. In 1975 he appeared in his own television game show Winner Takes All for Yorkshire Television. This ran until 1986 and was followed by Tarby’s Frame Game, also for Yorkshire Television.
The 80’s found Jimmy presenting Live From Her Majesty’s which was aired in 1983/84 and 1985, followed by Live from the Piccadilly in 1986 culminating with Live From the London Palladium in 1987/1988. During this period he also had a television series called Tarby and Friends in 1984/86 and was followed by Tarby After Ten in 1988.
The Honours & Accolades...
He has been honoured by an hour long special of This is Your Life and has found time to write two books -Tarbuck on Golf, which went to the top of the bestsellers followed by Tarbuck on Showbiz which was as equally successful. He has received the top Variety Club of Great Britain award of Showbusiness Personality of the Year and he has been made an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem for his charity work.
In 1994, Jimmy was honoured by being awarded the OBE for his services to showbusiness and charity.
Jimmy can be found appearing in summer seasons, pantomime, yearly concert tours and a variety of television programmes. He is also involved in many charitable causes. He is a popular after-dinner speaker and hosts many award ceremonies.
