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Jimmy Jewel

Jimmy Jewel (4 December 1909 – 3 December 1995) was an English comedian and actor renowned for his extensive career in variety, radio, television, and film, spanning over seven decades. Born James Arthur Thomas Jewel Marsh in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, to a family immersed in the music hall tradition—his father was comedian James Marsh and his mother Gertie Driver—Jewel made his professional stage debut at age five with his family's touring show. In 1934, he formed the enduring comedy double act Jewel and Warriss with his cousin Ben Warriss, which became one of Britain's most popular partnerships, performing in West End theaters like the Holborn Empire and the London Palladium in shows such as Gangway (1942). The duo's success extended to radio with the long-running series Up the Pole (1947–1952) and television programs including The and Warriss Show (1956–1958), blending humor, songs, and sketches that captivated audiences. After the partnership dissolved in 1966, Jewel pursued a prolific solo career, most notably portraying the bumbling Pledge in the ITV sitcom (1968–1973) alongside , and the widowed grandfather in Spring & Autumn (1972–1976) with . Jewel also appeared in films such as The Krays (1990) and Riff-Raff (1991), and guest-starred in series like The Avengers (1961), showcasing his versatile comic timing into his later years. He published his autobiography Three Times Lucky in 1982, reflecting on his life's highs and challenges. Married to actress Belle Bluett until her death in 1985, Jewel had one son and one adopted daughter; he passed away in at age 85, shortly before what would have been his 86th birthday.

Early life

Birth and family background

James Arthur Thomas Jewel Marsh, known professionally as Jimmy Jewel, was born on 4 December 1909 in , , . Although some contemporary obituaries listed his birth year as 1912, this appears to stem from a reporting error, with 1909 corroborated by genealogical records and multiple biographical accounts. Jewel was the son of James Marsh, a comedian and actor-manager who performed in music halls under the stage name Jimmy Jewel and produced touring shows. His mother, Gertie Driver, was also involved in the as a singer and dancer, contributing to the family's deep immersion in the world of variety theater. The operated within the touring circuit, staging shows that brought to audiences across . Raised in Sheffield's working-class neighborhoods during the early , Jewel grew up amid the city's industrial landscape, where his family's profession provided a contrasting lifeline to . This environment, steeped in the traditions of performance, fostered strong familial ties to , shaping Jewel's early exposure to through his parents' careers.

Initial steps in entertainment

Jimmy Jewel's earliest forays into entertainment were shaped by his family's deep roots in the , providing him with an immediate pathway into the world of stage performance. He made his professional stage debut at the age of five with his family's touring show. From the age of ten onward, Jewel contributed more substantively to his father's touring productions, taking on dual roles as a performer and stage manager. This involvement with the family troupe, often billed as Jimmy Jewel & Co., immersed him in the practicalities of variety shows, from set design to audience engagement, while fostering his skills in the music hall tradition of quick-witted , songs, and impressions. Despite these early experiences, Jewel briefly pursued non-entertainment occupations, including stints in clerical work, as he considered alternatives to the uncertain life of ; he also received training as a carpenter during this period. Ultimately drawn back by the allure of , he honed his craft through the music hall's emphasis on versatile , drawing influences from established acts in songs, dances, and character portrayals. His commitment solidified with his first solo appearance in 1925 at the Bedford Music Hall in , at the age of 15, where he performed independently for the first time in the capital.

Career

Partnership with Ben Warriss

Jimmy Jewel formed a professional with his first cousin in 1934 at the Palace Theatre in , after the two improvised a routine together when a scheduled performer failed to appear. Born just months apart in and raised in the same household, the cousins—Jewel as the bumbling fool and Warriss as the exasperated —quickly gained traction on the northern variety circuit with their blend of fast-talking verbal and physical routines. Their partnership, billed as Jewel and Warriss, endured for over three decades, becoming one of Britain's most popular duos during the mid-20th century. In the late 1930s and 1940s, the duo expanded internationally, undertaking a short tour of with John D. Roberton's revues and performing on American television via in 1951. Back in the UK, they achieved prominence in , topping the bill at the London Palladium in the revues Gangway (1942) and High Time (1946), where their energetic sketches and audience interaction drew widespread acclaim. They also appeared in six Royal Variety Performances between 1942 and 1948, solidifying their status as variety headliners. A major breakthrough came with their BBC radio series Up the Pole, which premiered in October 1947 and ran for four series until 1952, portraying the pair as hapless proprietors of an in a series of chaotic comedic escapades. The show, written by Colin, Frank Roscoe, and others, showcased their verbal timing and elements through sketches involving mishaps with employees and visitors; only one episode from 1 November 1948 survives in the . The duo continued performing together through the 1950s and early 1960s, including additional radio outings like The Jewel and Warriss Show (1958–1959) and their final collaborative effort, the short-lived ITV sitcom It's a Living (1962), in which they played thrifty shopkeepers navigating everyday absurdities. The act dissolved in 1966 amid declining variety opportunities, marking the end of their 32-year collaboration.

Solo career and later roles

Following the end of his 32-year partnership with in 1966, driven by frustrations with the shifting entertainment industry and differing aspirations for their act's future, Jimmy transitioned to a solo career focused on . earned critical acclaim for his stage work in Trevor Griffiths' play (1975), where he portrayed Eddie Waters, a seasoned instructing aspiring performers on the craft during an evening class in . The production premiered at Nottingham Playhouse in February 1975 before transferring to for a limited run, praised for its incisive exploration of 's social dimensions and Jewel's nuanced, authoritative performance as the mentor figure. A significant challenge in Jewel's solo television career arose during the ITV sitcom Nearest and Dearest (1968–1973), where he co-starred as Eli Pledge opposite as his Nellie; their on-set tensions became well-known. In his later years, Jewel took on memorable supporting roles, including Cannonball Lee, the pugilistic grandfather to the , in the 1990 The Krays, directed by . His final television appearance was a guest spot as Boswell, the aging manager, in the 1993 Lovejoy episode "Swings and Roundabouts." Jewel also sustained radio and variety engagements into the 1980s, navigating the decline of traditional by incorporating his evolving acting skills into revues and broadcasts.

Television and film work

Key television appearances

Jewel gained widespread recognition for his role as Eli Pledge, the laid-back and scheming brother in the (1968–1973), where he played a cheese merchant reluctantly partnering with his domineering sister Nellie to run the family business after their father's death. The Granada Television production spanned seven series and 45 episodes, blending family squabbles with factory antics involving colorful supporting characters. Despite a notorious off-screen feud with co-star that strained production, Jewel's portrayal showcased his dry wit and timing, contributing to the series' enduring popularity. In the early 1970s, Jewel starred as the widowed pensioner Tommy Butler in the ITV sitcom Spring & Autumn (1972–1976), depicting an elderly man's relocation to his daughter's home and his budding friendship with a mischievous young neighbor boy, Charlie. The Thames Television series ran for four series totaling 26 episodes, emphasizing intergenerational bonds and everyday humor. Jewel's performance as the optimistic yet meddlesome Butler highlighted his ability to convey warmth and vulnerability in character-driven comedy. Earlier, Jewel delivered a memorable guest performance as Maxie, a sinister quick-change performer involved in assassinations, in the 1968 The Avengers episode "Look – (Stop Me If You've Heard This One) But There Were These Two Fellers." His comedic flair infused the spy thriller's plot, contrasting humor with menace in a role that drew on his roots. Jewel also headlined the short-lived BBC sitcom Thicker Than Water (1968–1969), portraying Jim Eccles, a widowed fishmonger navigating life with his three adult daughters and an intrusive neighbor. The eight-episode series explored domestic chaos and family dynamics through sketch-like scenarios. Additionally, he made recurring appearances in variety shows and pilots throughout the decade, maintaining his presence in light entertainment formats.

Film roles

Jimmy Jewel's film appearances were relatively few but spanned his long career, often leveraging his comedic timing from and radio work while occasionally venturing into drama. His screen debut came in the 1943 wartime musical comedy Rhythm Serenade, directed by Gordon Wellesley, where he portrayed , a character in a patriotic romance centered on during , co-starring with his longtime partner as Ben Martin. The duo's chemistry provided comic relief amid musical numbers featuring , highlighting Jewel's early contributions to British morale-boosting cinema. Jewel continued in supporting comedic roles through the postwar years, including as Jimmy B. Jervis in the 1949 military farce What a Carry On!, directed by John E. Blakeley, which followed two hapless recruits navigating army life and gambling mishaps. Another early effort was Let's Have a Murder (1950), where he played Jimmy Jewsbury in a lighthearted mystery-comedy. In the 1970s, amid his television prominence, Jewel took minor comedic parts such as Mr. Pringle, a quirky neighbor, in the 1970 satirical drama The Man Who Had Power Over Women, directed by John Krish, which explored fame and relationships in the music industry. A significant late-career highlight was his dramatic portrayal of Cannonball Lee, the boxing-enthusiast grandfather of the and a East End figure with a criminal past, in Peter Medak's 1990 biographical crime The Krays. This role, in a starring the Kemp brothers as the notorious gangsters, represented a departure from , earning praise for Jewel's authentic depiction of working-class resilience and marking one of his most impactful cinematic contributions. Jewel appeared as the elder Ashby in the 1991 comedy-drama American Friends, directed by and starring Michael Palin, where he played a supportive family patriarch in a story of unexpected romance during a Swiss holiday. His final film role was a small appearance as a member of the pub band in Ken Loach's 1991 comedy-drama Riff-Raff.

Personal life

Marriage and family

Jimmy Jewel married Belle Bluett, a singer, dancer, and actress known for her work in revue and musical , on an unspecified date in 1939. The couple's union, which lasted until Bluett's death in 1985, was rooted in the show-business world, as she came from a prominent ; her father, Fred Bluett, was a well-known performer, and her sister Kitty Bluett achieved fame as a radio actress and singer. Jewel and Bluett had one biological son, Kerry Jewel, who followed his parents into the entertainment industry, working as an and later as a theater in . They also adopted a daughter, creating a close-knit unit that provided stability during Jewel's demanding career of stage tours and performances. In the wake of Bluett's passing, received the Variety Club of Great Britain Special Award in 1985, honoring his lifetime contributions to entertainment. This recognition came at a poignant time, underscoring the personal resilience demonstrated amid family loss while continuing his professional legacy.

Death

Jimmy died on 3 December 1995 at his home in , , at the age of 85. His passing occurred just one day before his 86th birthday on 4 December. He was cremated at . Posthumous recognition for Jewel has been limited, though his role as Eli Pledge in the ITV sitcom (1968–1973) continues to find audiences through streaming platforms and online availability.

References

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