BORN ON THIS DAY

JIM BOWeN (1937-2018). The Cheshire-born former binman found fame as host of darts-themed gameshow Bullseye (right), though he said he was the producers’ fifth choice. He decided to try out comedy after watching Ken Dodd perform live for seven hours — and with his catchphrases ‘Super, smashing, great’ and ‘You can’t beat a bit of Bully’ he became a household name. Bowen died just three days after Dodd in March.

JACqUeLINe SUSANN (1918-1974). The U.S. novelist, a failed actress, wrote Valley Of The Dolls, which at the time of her death was in the Guinness Book Of Records as the best-selling novel in history. Her critics were unimpressed. Gore Vidal said: ‘She doesn’t write, she types.’