Original Review:

Jimbo is something of a legend in the open-mic community, mainly for his dogged determination to keep plugging away at the bottom rung of the comedy circuit with little hope, and possibly desire, of promotion.

He is a real character, too – a man in latish middle age on a scene dominated by the young, whose jokes are almost universally dreadful. Yet, undeterred he keeps churning them out.

What appeal he has ins predominantly from the ironic ‘so bad he’s good’ school, although even if you do subscribe to that point of view, you are still likely to have your patience tested in even the shortest set. He is essentially a novelty act, with a novelty that very soon wears out.

The one person who is always entertained by his patter is Jimbo himself, who follows each painful pun with an earpiecingly loud barked laugh – an involuntary nervous reflex vaguely redolent of Eric Morecambe’s ‘Arsenal’ tic. The twitch only adds to his cultish appeal, making him appear even more of a quirky personality.

One – or at a stretch, even two – of the gags in his set can be OK, but to suggest he collate these into a workable set would defeat the point. He’s a hero to the newcomers seeking validation to their own half-formed acts and adds a modicum of wilfully amateurish colour to the incubator sub-circuit increasingly dominated by career comics with their five-point plans.

It’s great that the comedy circuit can still find some space for eccentrics like Jimbo – you just wouldn’t want to have to sit through his act all that often…

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3

Jimbo's act has developed exponentially, though he once made jokes that border line on the cringe-worthy, Jimbo has now come into his own as a comedian who has the audience laughing at his witty repartee that bounces off current affairs and plays to his strengths. Jimbo provides a guaranteed good night out on the comedy circuit, with off-the-wall jokes that really spark an audience into laughing uncontrollably.

Alex, February 2013

Jimbo, one of the first acts I ever saw on the comedy circuit. He made me LAUGH. Not many people do that. If Jimbo was a woman I'd marry him/her. One of my favourite acts ever.

Brian Damage, August 2012

A clever, thoughtful act that could grace any room.

Dennis Pratt [fellow competitor] albeit unsuccessf, February 2012

Think the review's a bit harsh. Died laughing tonight in Leicester, mental, but well thought-out comedy.

Curtis, February 2012

The first time I see Jimbo I was compere at a talent night in Bexleyheath he came on done 10 mins struggling to get the mike working. Then walked off! I was told it was his act, it turns out he is a brilliant silent actor/artist. The next time I saw him was at the Falconwood and knowing he was doing a silent act, I watched and did not stop laughing he is on the top rung in mime

Steve, February 2011

Ordinarily, I wouldn’t have commented; but the review so far off the mark I just had to. The best thing about the bottom rung of the comedy ladder is Jimbo. The top rung can’t have him. I’ve watched his act with middle disbelief a many time. I first saw his act (as a punter) years ago; admittedly I didn’t “get it”. However, just as I was “pulling my ears off” he hit me with the funniest jokes I’ve heard in ages and I was in fits. Now that I’m an act I’m delegated to say Hes got me in much the same way in 2008 and 07. He has given me the single biggest laugh from any act I’ve seen year on year. You got to dig for the gold; but its there, and it's the shiniest gold you ever did see. Now, when I see him I just feel the anticipation that the unexpected is going to happen again.

Boyce Bailey, March 2009

I have met Jimbo several times touring the open-mic circuit doing poetry and comedy and he is indeed the legend that many people say he is. He is a thoroughly nice bloke who always tries hard and encourages and cheers on other artists on the scene. As well as co-running Pear-Shaped at Fitzrovia, Jimbo also does the occasional feature spot, and only last month did a full ten-minutes at the Rhythm Factory in Whitechapel. He pulled every trick out of the bag, gently referring to other acts and physically enacting a bizarre situation when he'd locked himself out of his flat. I enjoy performing whenever he's around, as he's always good company.

Alain English, June 2008

I particularly like the fact that he brings a video camera to his gigs, thrusts it into someone's hands as he goes on and asks them to film him... so maybe he has all these stories archived away? there is a BBC4 Documentary in there just waiting to burst out! Viewers who liked Jimbo would also surely like Jim Rat Tail (the Jimbo of the indie gig world - google him)

Bob Slayer, April 2008

Skip to page: 1 | 2 | 3