BBC Three Comedy Marathon

At the Edinburgh Fringe 2012

More Jimeoin videos

Jimeoin was born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, and grew up in Portstewart, Northern Ireland, but moved to Australia at the age of 22. He lives in Melbourne, but frequently returns to the UK. His first TV appearance down under was on the stand-up show The Big Gig in 1991, and he subsequently landed a regular role on the sketch show Full Frontal. In 1994, ghe starred in two series of his own, eponymous comedy series for the Seven network. Other Australian TV credits include Rove, Thank God You're Here, Spicks and Specks and Good News Week - while in the UK he appeared on Michael McIntyre's Comedy Roadshow in 2010 and Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford in 2011.

A combined travelogue and stand-up show he filmed across the north of Australia was shown on both BBC Northern Ireland in 2008 and Australia's Comedy Channel in 2010.

He has starred in and co-written two Australian film comedies, 1999's The Craic and 2005's The Extra, both co-starring his regular collaborator Bob Franklin

Jimeoin at Latitude 2010
Live Review

Probably because he spends so much time in Australia, it can be easy to forget just what a sublime observational comic Ireland’s Jimeoin can be.

He started his Latitude set with probably his greatest hit: showing how a subtle eyebrow movement can change a sentence’s intent – a bold thing to try in such a cavernous venue, but surprisingly effective. That was followed by an inspired description of the virtual reality of memories that surround is. This great routine shows his greatest strength – the ability not just to observe foibles, but also to posit an apparently credible, though clearly fantastical, theory as to why this may be so.

As opposed to telling us things we could probably have figure out for ourselves, Jimeoin goes microscopic in his detail, offering such delicate, precise conclusions invisible to the untrained eye.

He can be equally inspired or silly, sometimes both, such as when he mocks his own slapdash mime work or emulating the spin cycles of a washing machine. This is a fortysomething man just making noises on stage, proving him as hilarious without words as he is with them.

He delivers all this at the ‘speed of cheese’ – the slow-burn, pause-riddled rhythms you would expect from someone with so much time he can ponder these insignificant details in such depth. But although soft spoken, his delicate, devastatingly accurate comedy comes through loud and clear.

All the humour and charisma of a sales assistant at Carpetright.

Gary, Glasgow, March 2012

Saw Jimeoin in Southend recently - didn't walk out of the theatre aching from laughter like I have from other stand-ups but that is not his style anyway. The comedy has a way of creeping up on you when you're not expecting it and for the two weeks after I was seeing things that he had referenced and just chuckling to myself (sometimes in the strangest places). A very, very clever comedian whose humour and take on everyday things will just keep popping back into your mind. My son now also references the "speed of cheese" whenever he can. Well worth seeing if you get the opportunity.

Johnny C, March 2012

Billy Connolly, but brought up in Ireland, trimmed of swear words and filled with MSG. McConnolly.

Mandy Allan, January 2010

Was for a long time one of my favourite commedians at The Fringe with some great observational humour... but after several years and various (Australian) DVDs of rehashing the same routine over and over and over again I just lost faith that I'd ever see a whole 'new show' that was actually 'all new' and didn't have me thinking about the puchlines before they came, Comedy genius if you are new to him... but in desperate need of fresh material for long term fans.

Dave R, July 2009

2006 Edinburgh completely different set from 05. Sell out audience in George Square Theatre loved him. A mystery why he is not better known here

Bill Glasgow, August 2006