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…

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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

There is a common misconception that Jimbo has never made it past doing open spots. This is wrong. Jimbo is in fact co-compere of Pear Shaped (London's second Worst Comedy Club) and honour equalled only by Mr Ivan Steward, Mr Paul Foot, Mr Steven Carlin, Mr Dave Dynamite and currently Mr Anthony Miller along with a few others too numerous or successful to mention. In some quarters this would be seen as being highly successful.

Brian Damage, May 2007

He is the King, sit back watch stare laugh whatever. There is only one Jimbo. Long may he reign

John Ryan, April 2007

One of my favorite memories from the open spot circuit is Jimbo one night at the Queens Head. Surprising himself by having a great gig, he proceeded to climb out the window, and then five seconds later he appeared at the other window without his trousers. Legend!

Jason John Whitehead, April 2007

Not only a living legend but also a sex god and shining example to all of us. I believe that Jimbo should be a religion. Jimbo was also one of the first acts I ever saw - I'm sure he got his knob out.

Brian Damage, April 2007

Seeing as Jimbo has been going for as long as he has, why did Mr Chortle decide to review him now I wonder? Okay, so he isn't the funniest comedian in the world. So what? He does it for the love of it. Okay, so he'll never advance beyond "the bottom rung of the comedy ladder". So what? He does it for the love of it. That is so very rare these days, when everyone and his wife is trying to "make it". Jimbo may not be the funniest comedian in the world, but the comedy circuit would be a lot, lot poorer without him. Jimbo will be remembered and appreciated long after all those people on the circuit with a "well-constructed 10 minute set" are forgotten. That might only be because he'll keep going long after they've quit. But so what? He's doing it for the love of it. Something that 99% of people will never do.

Phil Klein, April 2007

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