The Way With Words exhibition celebrates notable people with a connection to the local area who found success with a career in words.
Jimmy Tarbuck OBE grew up in Wavertree and attended Dovedale Primary School
Jimmy says “I have such happy memories of playing football at The Mystery, the Abbey Cinema and Picton Road baths but the main thing I remember is the laughter and fun of a wonderful childhood.”
Tarby, as he is known to millions of TV viewers, is one of the country’s most evergreen performers and a master of light entertainment.
Having successfully spent more than 40 years in the notoriously fickle world of showbusiness, Jimmy Tarbuck has hosted numerous television shows, variety shows, chat shows and game shows and his cheeky grin and boy-next-door charms have won him fans far away from his native Liverpool.
The Liverpool born comic and entertainer was spotted by the late Val Parnell while working as a Butlins Redcoat, and made his TV debut aged 22 on Comedy Bandbox. Soon afterwards he made several guest appearances on Sunday Night Live At The London Palladium for Val Parnell until he became the resident compere in September 1965, aged just 25 years old.
After this fabulous start to his career, Jimmy was soon in great demand headlining top variety shows, and soon his own TV series’ followed. During the 1970s and 80s, Tarby was rarely off the screen as programmes such as The Jimmy Tarbuck Show, Winner Takes All, Tarby And Friends and the Live From … series attracted millions of TV viewers each week.
Following the decline of variety on television, Jimmy is in much demand as one of Britain’s top cabaret artistes and after-dinner speakers, and he regularly hosts many of the top award and business events. He is also a popular TV guest and when he is not entertaining his corporate, television and theatre audiences can be found on the golf course or supporting his beloved Liverpool Football Club.
During his illustrious career, Jimmy Tarbuck has achieved many awards as both an entertainer and a charity fundraiser. He has received the top Variety Club of Great Britain award of Showbusiness Personality of the Year and he has been made an Officer of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem for his charity work. He has also been honoured by an hour-long special of This Is Your Life and in 1994, was awarded the OBE for his services to showbusiness and charity. Jimmy was also awarded the Freedom of the City of London in 2000 and is President of Diabetes UK.