Jimmy Wheeler

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Jimmy Wheeler (16 September 1910 - 1973) was a variety theatre comedian and pioneer of radio and television.

Born Ernest Remnant in Battersea, London 16th September 1910, died 1973 - exact date of death unknown (to compiler). He acquired the name Jimmy from George Formby (Senior), who introduced him on stage early in his career as 'Lucky Jim'. The Wheeler part of his name came from his father's double act 'Wheeler and Wilson', after he took over the role of Wheeler to his father's Wilson.

A burly man with a moustache, he used a violin as part of his stage act in the style of Jack Benny. His catchphrase 'Aye Aye That's Your Lot' took on a new life after his career was over in the act of a great fan, rock and roll singer and fellow Londoner Ian Dury. Jimmy was very popular in London and the south of England, but his act was sometimes less well received in northern England and Scotland.

Jimmy appeared on radio from 1928 and on TV from 1932 when it was in its experimental stage, right through to the 1960s. He took great care in tailoring his delivery to the new media so that he still came across in the same style as his stage act.

Some of his stage and radio acts were humorous resumés of well-known operas which he entitled 'Hopra for the higgerant', [Opera for the ignorant - with typical added Cockney-type aitches].

Jimmy's entertainment genes have been carried into the present in a distinctly unusual way. His daughter married into an Italian circus family, and Jimmy's grandson Leo Bassi, who is based in Spain, uses circus and theatre as an 'agent provocateur' to challenge attitudes about issues such as politics, religion, global captitalism and race relations.