Jeremy James Anthony Gibson-Beadle was born on April 12, 1948 in Hackney, east London. His father, a Fleet Street sports reporter, abandoned Jeremy's mother when he learned that she was pregnant. Before Jeremy reached the age of two, he was frequently hospitalized and had undergone surgery for Poland syndrome, a rare genetic disorder which stunted growth in his right hand. Beadle did not enjoy school and was frequently in trouble. He was eventually expelled from his secondary school, Orpington County Secondary Boys' School. 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 realized 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 which was short-lived, though he subsequently maintained a connection with the publication in London. In 1972, North West Arts Association asked him to organize 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 program 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.
During the 1980s, he was a regular face on British television and in two years appeared 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. He was awarded the MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2001 Queen's New Year’s Honors List for his services to Broadcasting and to Charity.
On 25 January 2008, it was reported that Beadle had been admitted to The London Hospital and was subsequently placed in a Critical Care Unit due to severe pneumonia. He died on 30 January 2008, aged 59.
BEADLE, Jeremy (Jeremy James Anthony Gibson-Beadle) [4/12/1948, Hackney, London, England, U.K. - 1/30/2008, London, England, U.K. (pneumonia)] - producer, screenwriter, TV actor, MBE [2001].
A Fistful of Fingers - 1994 (Jeremy Beadle)
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