Stars pay tribute as Bullseye’s Jim Bowen dies at 80
We worked together many times... had lots of laughs together.
Frank Bruno, former heavyweight boxer.
FORMER BOXING champion Frank Bruno and darts stars have led tributes to Jim Bowen following the death of the former Bullseye presenter. The TV star – who presented the darts-based game show in the 1980s and 1990s – is to be remembered by Challenge TV on Saturday as the channel announced it would be broadcasting 24 hours of Bullseye as a tribute.
The station also said they would re-run a documentary on the game show last night following the “terribly sad news”.
Ex-professional darts players Bobby George, Keith Deller and Eric Bristow were among those paying tribute on social media, with George thanking Bowen “for the great Bullseye days”, adding “we had so much fun”.
Deller tweeted: “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 welcome and he made Bullseye the great show it was. RIP Jim.”
Ex-heavyweight boxer Bruno tweeted: “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.”
Darts player Kevin Painter posted “thanks for the memories Jim”.
Bowen died yesterday aged 80, with his wife Phyllis by his side after several weeks in hospital.
In 2011, the star, also known as Alf in the Tetley Bitter adverts, said he had learned to “appreciate all the things in life” after suffering two strokes.