Jeremy Beadle
| Jeremy Beadle MBE |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born |
12 April 1948 Hackney, London, England |
| Died | 30 January 2008 (aged 59) London, England |
| Cause of death | Pneumonia |
| Resting place | Highgate Cemetery |
| Occupation | TV presenter, radio presenter, writer and producer. |
| Years active | 1970–2008 |
| Spouse(s) | Susan Marshall |
| Children | Cassie and Bonnie and stepchildren Leo and Clare |
Jeremy James Anthony Gibson-Beadle MBE (12 April 1948 – 30 January 2008) was an English television presenter, radio presenter, writer and producer. During the 1980s he was a regular face on British television, and in two years appeared on 50 weeks of the year. His shows regularly topped the charts, beating Coronation Street and EastEnders on one occasion. He was the first mainstream television presenter to have a physical disability. Behind the scenes, he worked as a script doctor on many television shows as well as presenting many corporate events.
Beadle was born in Hackney, east London, on 12 April 1948. His father, a Fleet Street sports reporter, abandoned Jeremy's mother, Marji (b. 9 July 1921 – Found dead 9 July 2002), when he learned that she was pregnant. Before Jeremy reached the age of two he was frequently hospitalised and had undergone surgery for Poland syndrome, a rare disorder that stunted growth in his right hand.
His mother worked as a secretary to help pay to raise him, including a stint for the boxing promoter Jack Solomon. Beadle did not enjoy school and was frequently in trouble. He was eventually expelled from his secondary school, Orpington County Secondary Boys' School. A teacher remarked, "Beadle, you waffle like a champion but know nothing."
After his expulsion, he travelled and worked in Europe. He had a number of jobs, at one point taking photographs of topless models, and worked as a skin-diving instructor, lavatory attendant and tour guide. He often said that he gave the best London tour because he realised that what people wanted was stories of blood, sex and death.
Beadle was chosen in 1970 by Tony Elliott, the founder of Time Out, to set up a Manchester edition of the magazine, a venture that was short-lived, though he subsequently maintained a connection with the publication in London. In 1972, North West Arts Association asked him to organise the Bickershaw Festival, and he worked on further musical events over the next couple of years.
In 1973, as an early member of the Campaign for Real Ale, he was elected to their National Executive and secured the campaign's first television or radio coverage in a one-hour programme on BBC Radio London, which he hosted. It was during this period that his talent for practical jokes became evident, although occasionally this rebounded on him, such as when colleagues left him naked in front of 400 women arriving for their shift. He then started writing for radio and television, going on to provide material for stars such as Terry Wogan, Michael Aspel, Noel Edmonds and Kenny Everett.
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