Jim Dale at the London Palladium

Here's a lovely treat from way back in 1990. Carry On star and all round entertainer Jim Dale performed quite a complicated, highly skilled routine as part of a tribute to the late musical hall entertainer Lupino Lane.

Lupino Lane was a famous actor and theatre star who made his name in the play and the film of Me and My Girl, which popularised The Lambeth Walk. Jim of course would have a huge success in the same play during his career. 

Stretching the Carry On link even further, Lupino Lane's son, the comedian Lauri Lupino Lane went on to appear in the slapstick finale of Carry On Loving in 1970. He also starred in a similar sequence in the infamous Confessions from a Holiday Camp seven years later.

Anyway, back to Jim. This clip demonstrates his wonderful versatility as an actor, a comedy performer and a star of musicals. Although this is from twenty five years ago, much of what Jim does here, he replicated during his recent one man show, Just Jim Dale, in the West End. He's quite clearly still got it at 80!

Anyway, enjoy the clip!

Carry On!

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Just Jim Dale on Loose Women

Jim Dale was a guest on the ITV show Loose Women earlier today. Jim was on to promote his one man show, Just Jim Dale, which is playing at London's Vaudeville Theatre until 20 June.

The panelists were all keen to point out that Jim really doesn't look his age at all and they are quite right! Having seen him in the flesh on stage at the weekend, I'm still struggling to believe he will soon be 80! Jim told the Loose Women about how he got into showbiz and touched on all the different aspects of his incredible career. They just don't make them like that anymore! 

I've loved seeing Jim back in Britain recently. It's been terrific to reconnect with this talented man. If you haven't seen his show yet do go, it's fantastic. You can read my review of Just Jim Dale here.

You can watch Jim being interviewed on Loose Women here

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My Review: Just Jim Dale

I am in complete awe of Jim Dale. For two hours yesterday afternoon we sat muttering "how can he be nearly 80?" I don't want to dwell on someone's age but even by modern day standards, Jim is remarkably sprightly.

I was really interested to see what Jim would do with his two hour one man show at the Vaudeville Theatre. I knew the show had run over in America and been very successful but since then it had been rejigged for a British audience. I mainly know Jim from the Carry Ons of course, but there is so much more to his life and career than his starring roles in eleven of the films.

The show passed in the blink of an eye. Jim was just wonderful, the ultimate professional and very obviously enjoying himself hugely. Although this was a retrospective look at his long career it never fell into self-congratulatory mode. It was very British in that respect. It did cover lots of high points and career achievements but all along there was a wonderfully attractive dead pan style, lots of sending himself up and a great dollop of not taking himself seriously. It was a very human performance and there was a great warmth and affection between the audience and Jim and vice versa.

Jim packed a lot into the show. He started off talking about his early life and spoke with great affection about his parents and how they had supported his desire to break into showbiz. We then meandered through Jim's early days in music hall and there were plenty of joyous anecdotes about his attempts at ballet dancing! We then moved on to his brief foray into the pop music industry, recording songs with the legendary George Martin. 

The show was peppered with lots of lovely songs from Jim's career, most notably Georgy Girl (which he wrote for the famous film), Dick A Dum Dum (!) and music from his hit show Barnum. Jim's vocal talent is still strong and he performed all these songs with serious aplomb. I was really impressed. 

Jim then talked about working with the Old Vic and National Theatre companies and it was here he made his only slip up and a very amusing one it was too! All I'll say is I was momentarily puzzled as to what Laurence Olivier might have been doing in Jim's bedroom...moving on! Jim shared memories of working on theatrical successes such as Barnum, playing most of the comic parts in Shakespeare, working on Peter Nichols plays and playing in Scapino. Nearly all of these parts involved a great deal of physical exertion, something Jim is justly famous for. His energy doesn't seem to have dipped at all over the years.

Of course, we were also treated to memories from the Carry Ons. A lovely montage of images appeared on a screen showing photos of the main team. We also saw clips of Jim's infamous stunts in the films, most notably those involving a camel and a hospital trolley! Jim talked about making Raising The Wind and how it was Kenneth Williams who spotted his potential and made sure he went on to become part of the main Carry On team. Jim shared some funny stories involving Kenneth Williams and Hattie Jacques and there was genuine warmth and affection for his late, great colleagues. I was also pleased to hear Jim reference some of the many other contributors to the Carry Ons' success, such as Angela Douglas, Fenella Fielding, Peter Butterworth, Amanda Barrie and Peter Gilmore.

The show ended with a very funny sketch recalling how Jim got the job of narrating the Harry Potter audio books for the American market. His comic timing, dexterity and physicality are very much still in evidence after all these years. 

It is hard to criticise the show but if I had to nit pick I wish there had been a few more Carry On anecdotes. After all, it's largely what he's known for here. It was wonderful to hear about his wider career but there must have been a lot more he could share about making the films and working with such legendary comedy actors. A small point but I loved the show regardless. 

There were many laugh out loud moments throughout the show. Jim worked incredibly hard and the audience responded well to all his efforts. It made me realise just what a talent he is. There aren't many left like Jim Dale these days. He's a true all-rounder, excelling at a bit of everything whether it be singing, dancing, writing songs, musical theatre, Shakespeare, film and television. He's done it all. It was a joy to see Jim back in the West End and long may he continue to entertains us and make us laugh. 

Just Jim Dale is on at London's Vaudeville Theatre until 20 June.

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Time for Just Jim Dale!

I am very excited! I'm off to London's theatre land this afternoon to see Carry On star Jim Dale live on stage! I've been blogging a bit about Jim's show, Just Jim Dale, over the past few weeks and I can't wait to see it for myself.

Jim will be telling the story of his impressive seven decade career, from music hall artist and pop star to the Carry Ons, the National Theatre, Broadway and Harry Potter! As well as sharing many anecdotes from his long career, I also believe Jim will be performing a few classic sketches and songs!

The reviews have all been good, the stars have turned out to support him and now it's my turn! I will blog a review of the show later this weekend so stay tuned for that!

You can read more about the show here, here and finally, here . 

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Carry On Stars Reunited

Just Jim Dale had its Press Night at the Vaudeville Theatre in London on Thursday night and while this glittering evening saw stars such as Kenneth Branagh and Robert Lindsay out to see our Jim, there were also a couple of historic Carry On reunions.

Jim is back in London with his one man show for the next month and last night saw two Carry On stars on the red carpet before heading in to reunite with their former colleague. Carry On legends Barbara Windsor and Fenella Fielding were both in attendance. Oh how I wish I had been there! 

Apparently Jim has not caught up with either of his famous Carry On colleagues since their days together at Pinewood. 

I wonder if any other former Carry On co-stars will pop in to see Jim during his run? 

The Telegraph have a review of the show which you can read here


Photo credit: Dan Wooller for WhatsOnStage

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Just Jim Dale

Jim Dale has been doing the rounds in interviews as he makes final preparations to bring his one man show Just Jim Dale to the London stage.

The show has already played in the United States to great acclaim and UK audiences have been promised more Carry On content. Excellent! I can't wait to see Jim live next month at the Vaudeville theatre!

Anyway, thanks to regular blog readers for bringing the following interviews to my attention. First of all Jim appeared on Robert Elms' BBC London radio show yesterday. You can listen to that here.

Jim also appeared on Paul O'Grady's chat show last Wednesday afternoon. Unfortunately I missed this being out at work and forgetting to set the television to record. Ah, I thought, lovely ITV Player would come to my aid. Alas not. On checking, for some reason every other episode of the show is available EXCEPT the one in which Jim appears. I did read somewhere that Jim uttered a couple of words not normally heard on teatime telly but surely that doesn't stop ITV making it available?! It is still available on STV Player however you must enter a Scottish postcode in order to view. Sort it out ITV!!

If you hear of Jim making any further television or radio appearances, do let me know!

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Jim Dale and the Carry On "Clique"

Jim Dale is popping up in the British press again as he prepares to bring his one man show, Just Jim Dale, to the West End in London later this month.

An interview with the Daily Telegraph has caught my eye. The headline boldly states that Jim wasn't on particularly friendly terms with the rest of the Carry On gang, referring to them as a clique. Hmmm. Far be it for me to criticise, but Jim has always spoken with great affection about his late, great Carry On colleagues so this comes as rather a shock.

Reading on however, it seems that all it amounts to is that Jim didn't have time to socialise after shooting finished because he had a wife and family to go home and see. Not much of a story there then, eh? Whatever you make of it, it would appear the British press are focussing their attentions on Jim's Carry On links rather than everything else he has achieved in his long, varied career. Perhaps a little frustrating for Jim, but I'm sure it goes with the territory.

Anyway, the article is available here if you want to check it out. I'm off to see Jim's show at the Vaudeville theatre in a few weeks and I can't wait! A full review will appear on this blog soon after!

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Tickets booked for Just Jim Dale!

As I blogged a few weeks back, Carry On legend Jim Dale is bringing his one man show to London this year. I have just booked tickets to see the man himself at the Vaudeville Theatre in June! I can't wait to see the show and be entertained by Jim in the flesh!

The show will concentrate on Jim's incredible 70 years in show business and as well as covering his Carry On appearances in the likes of Cowboy, Don't Lose Your Head and Doctor, it will feature reminiscences on his many other film and theatre credits both here and in the United States where he has been based for many years. 

Jim Dale is one of only a handful of proper Carry On legends still with us these days and as he spends much of his time in America this is a rare chance to see Dr Nookey himself on the London stage.

The show, entitled Just Jim Dale, will be playing at London's Vaudeville Theatre from 26 May until 20 June. Tickets are on sale now from the usual theatre websites or directly from justjimdale.com 

I will, of course, write a review of the show for this blog so do look out for that!

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Just Jim Dale

Carry On legend Jim Dale is bringing his one man show to London this year. Jim starred in 10 of the films in their 1960s heyday before returning for Carry On Columbus in 1992.

The show will concentrate on Jim's incredible 70 years in show business and as well as covering his Carry On appearances in the likes of Cowboy, Don't Lose Your Head and Doctor, it will feature reminiscences on his many other film and theatre credits both here and in the United States where he has been based for many years. 

Jim Dale is one of only a handful of proper Carry On legends still with us these days and as he spends much of his time in America this is a rare chance to see Dr Nookey himself in the flesh on the London stage.

The show, entitled Just Jim Dale, will be playing at London's Vaudeville Theatre from 26 May until 20 June. Tickets are on sale now from the usual theatre websites or directly from justjimdale.com 

Wouldn't it be nice to see Jim reunited with some of his Carry On co-stars on stage? I wonder if Barbara Windsor or Angela Douglas will be in attendance?

I've always had a soft spot for our Jim so hope to make it along to one of his shows.


Follow me on Twitter @CarryOnJoan