Laughter is the Best Medicine

In October 1963, Jimmy Tarbuck made his TV debut on Sunday Night at the Palladium, The young comedian stepped out on stage and brought the house down. Two years later, he was hosting the show.As a football-mad youngster, Jimmy's dream had been to play professionally for his beloved Liverpool FC. Meanwhile, his childhood friends John Lennon and Cilla Black shot to fame as chart-topping sensations of the Merseybeat phenomenon. But it was a gift for making people laugh that was to propel him to stardom.Hosting the biggest show on British TV, he found himself on telly every week introducing superstars like Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and Rudolf Nureyev. Then he went to America and there he was on stage with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, chatting to Elvis in Vegas and chinwagging with Sinatra in Miami. This was a golden age for British entertainers, and he takes us back to the camaraderie of those days, remembering his old muckers Eric and Ernie, Tommy Cooper and Kenny Lynch, laughing together as they conquered the world.As his incredible story shows, Jimmy has gone through life seeing the funny side of everything and, even through tough times, he knows that laughter is always the best medicine. Read his autobiography for a big, joyful dose it.

Comedy legend Jimmy Tarbuck OBE has had a hugely successful career in entertainment for over sixty years. After his breakthrough moment on ITV’s Sunday Night at the Palladium in 1963, he shot to fame, and became host of the show from 1965 to 1967. In that time, he also became the youngest British comedian to have his own TV show, with his ITV series It’s Tarbuck!Jimmy went on to host numerous popular quiz shows, including Winner Takes All, which he presented for over a decade, as well as Full Swing and Tarby’s Frame Game. He then returned to stand-up and presenting variety shows, such as Live at the Palladium, Live from Her Majesty’s and For One Night Only.Jimmy is an avid golfer and has competed in pro-celebrity golf matches. Every year, he hosts Jimmy Tarbuck’s Golf Classic charity tournament. He is also the President of the charity Variety Golf.In 1994 he was awarded an OBE for his services to comedy, as well as his charitable contributions. In 2016, the Variety Club honoured him with a lifetime achievement award. Jimmy continues to tour, reflecting back on a remarkable life in showbusiness.Jimmy lives in London with his wife, Pauline.