Jim's World- An online appreciation of Jimmy Edwards
Useful links
About radio shows
Whack-o! episode guide
Mr. John Jorrocks television series
'Wake up at the back there!' and welcome to an online appreciation of a most under-rated British actor and comedian. This page was last updated on 18th July 2002.
James Keith O'Neill- better known to the world as 'Professor' Jimmy Edwards- was born on 23rd March 1920 in Barnes, London, and died on 7th July 1988 at the age of 68. In the 1940s, '50s, '60s and '70s he would be a major name in a British comedy world that included Kenneth Williams, Kenneth Connor, Arthur Lowe, Kenneth Horne, Leslie Phillips, Sid James, Tony Hancock, Spike Milligan, Peter Sellers, Morecambe & Wise and so many more. What made Jimmy different? Well, the moustache for a start! In fact, he founded the so-called 'Handlebar' club in the 1940s and was instantly recognisible from other 'character' actors in the same period.
After starring in the Footlights Review 'The 1939 All-Male Revue' produced by Donald Beves (which included a young Peter Eade-later Kenneth Williams' agent in the cast), Jimmy entered show business proper and was employed by the BBC.
In the following decades, Jimmy starred in such radio shows as 'Take It From Here',
'Whack-o!', 'The Big Business Lark', and 'Jim The Great'. He also regularly appeared on television.
In time this overview page will include links to episode guides and information about the shows Jimmy starred in. In the meantime, if you have any off-air recordings of shows Jimmy was in please contact me at richtharr@hotmail.com
An additional appeal- I am looking for reel to reel tapes/discs/cassette tapes containing radio programmes recorded prior to 1985. Again, if you have any drama, comedy, music or other radio programmes on these formats I would be very grateful if you could E-Mail me.
*Note- All material on these pages is copyright Richard Harrison and must not be used without seeking my permission.
***FILMS***
'NEARLY A NASTY ACCIDENT'- Excellent 1962 film starring Jimmy trying to cope with bungling Kenneth Connor. Great script and highly enjoyable performances, especially Jimmy, Civil Servant Richard Wattis and the cameo from Jon Pertwee.
Email: richtharr@freenet.co.uk
