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Laughter is the Best Medicine: My autobiography
In October 1963, Jimmy Tarbuck made his TV debut on Sunday Night at the Palladium, The young comedian stepped out on stage and brought the house down. Two years later, he was hosting the show.
As a football-mad youngster, Jimmy's dream had been to play professionally for his beloved Liverpool FC. Meanwhile, his childhood friends John Lennon and Cilla Black shot to fame as chart-topping sensations of the Merseybeat phenomenon. But it was a gift for making people laugh that was to propel him to stardom.
Hosting the biggest show on British TV, he found himself on telly every week introducing superstars like Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and Rudolf Nureyev. Then he went to America and there he was on stage with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, chatting to Elvis in Vegas and chinwagging with Sinatra in Miami. This was a golden age for British entertainers, and he takes us back to the camaraderie of those days, remembering his old muckers Eric and Ernie, Tommy Cooper and Kenny Lynch, laughing together as they conquered the world.
As his incredible story shows, Jimmy has gone through life seeing the funny side of everything and, even through tough times, he knows that laughter is always the best medicine. Read his autobiography for a big, joyful dose it.
As a football-mad youngster, Jimmy's dream had been to play professionally for his beloved Liverpool FC. Meanwhile, his childhood friends John Lennon and Cilla Black shot to fame as chart-topping sensations of the Merseybeat phenomenon. But it was a gift for making people laugh that was to propel him to stardom.
Hosting the biggest show on British TV, he found himself on telly every week introducing superstars like Judy Garland, Liza Minnelli and Rudolf Nureyev. Then he went to America and there he was on stage with Bob Hope and Bing Crosby, chatting to Elvis in Vegas and chinwagging with Sinatra in Miami. This was a golden age for British entertainers, and he takes us back to the camaraderie of those days, remembering his old muckers Eric and Ernie, Tommy Cooper and Kenny Lynch, laughing together as they conquered the world.
As his incredible story shows, Jimmy has gone through life seeing the funny side of everything and, even through tough times, he knows that laughter is always the best medicine. Read his autobiography for a big, joyful dose it.
312 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 6, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
January 21, 2026
Jimmy Tarbuck is Not a Tory.
He is football fan of Liverpool and a golf nut ,here we learn why Sean 007 is called Soapy and Bob Hope was sex crazy. Frank Sinatra was the Godfather, John Lennon was his favourite school boy friend.
From his early childhood days, to his marriage and family nothing is left out, full of photos and good print, this very funny autobiography.
He is football fan of Liverpool and a golf nut ,here we learn why Sean 007 is called Soapy and Bob Hope was sex crazy. Frank Sinatra was the Godfather, John Lennon was his favourite school boy friend.
From his early childhood days, to his marriage and family nothing is left out, full of photos and good print, this very funny autobiography.
February 15, 2026
This was definitely a left field read for me and only happened because the gift giver mistook the chap on the cover for someone else completely.
And to begin with it was a surprisingly decent read... eventually the celebrity aspect caught up with me, the description of people as 'known to like a bevvy' (of people who died of their affliction) and the need to declare an assessment of everyone (so common in this sort of book) It started well... no faux deprivation, no faux humility but a solid appreciation of his good luck and an interesting picture of life as a teenager in Liverpool at that time. Variety shows were never my sort of thing but I am old enough to know who and what he was on about when his career takes off.
He complains that he acquired a reputation as a Tory supporter, he thinks undeservedly, I feel differently even if it isn't conscious or overt (not voting earns precisely zero impartiality points in my view, and doing a political party gig purely for the money... yeah, fits)... and then, in the nastiest and most needless little footnote, complaining about 'Dawn French's' ex husband' getting a knighthood. Hmmm.
He starts the book with his son's suggestion the book should be called The Last of the Dinosaurs... he started out and became successful very young and does not appear to have had many health damaging vices, so the final part of the book is dominated by the loss of showbiz friends. He doesn't say so but being wheeled out for media comment on each demise probably helps prolong his career well into old age but his sadness is genuine.
And to begin with it was a surprisingly decent read... eventually the celebrity aspect caught up with me, the description of people as 'known to like a bevvy' (of people who died of their affliction) and the need to declare an assessment of everyone (so common in this sort of book) It started well... no faux deprivation, no faux humility but a solid appreciation of his good luck and an interesting picture of life as a teenager in Liverpool at that time. Variety shows were never my sort of thing but I am old enough to know who and what he was on about when his career takes off.
He complains that he acquired a reputation as a Tory supporter, he thinks undeservedly, I feel differently even if it isn't conscious or overt (not voting earns precisely zero impartiality points in my view, and doing a political party gig purely for the money... yeah, fits)... and then, in the nastiest and most needless little footnote, complaining about 'Dawn French's' ex husband' getting a knighthood. Hmmm.
He starts the book with his son's suggestion the book should be called The Last of the Dinosaurs... he started out and became successful very young and does not appear to have had many health damaging vices, so the final part of the book is dominated by the loss of showbiz friends. He doesn't say so but being wheeled out for media comment on each demise probably helps prolong his career well into old age but his sadness is genuine.
May 13, 2026
I’ve always had a soft spot for Jimmy Tarbuck, largely because he was a close friend of my uncle, Jimmy Melia — my mum Betty’s brother — and, along with Bobby Campbell, was responsible for giving him that first gentle nudge onto the stage at Butlins. Jimmy even appears in my mum and dad’s wedding photographs from July 1958, taken outside St Anthony’s Church on Scotland Road in Liverpool.
I’m not biased, honestly, but there’s something about him that feels familiar, as though you’ve known him all your life, even though we never actually met — and now, of course, never will.
The book was a thoroughly enjoyable read: full of stories, some hilarious, some touching, and the moments involving my favourite band, The Beatles, were an added delight. Equally fascinating was the broader picture it paints of television and theatre from the 1960s onwards — how the industry worked, how it evolved, and how much has changed.
It’s nostalgic, witty, and affectionate. Jimmy comes across as a likeable young rogue who grew into a proud family man and a well‑respected “dinosaur” — his word, not mine.
Recommended
I’m not biased, honestly, but there’s something about him that feels familiar, as though you’ve known him all your life, even though we never actually met — and now, of course, never will.
The book was a thoroughly enjoyable read: full of stories, some hilarious, some touching, and the moments involving my favourite band, The Beatles, were an added delight. Equally fascinating was the broader picture it paints of television and theatre from the 1960s onwards — how the industry worked, how it evolved, and how much has changed.
It’s nostalgic, witty, and affectionate. Jimmy comes across as a likeable young rogue who grew into a proud family man and a well‑respected “dinosaur” — his word, not mine.
Recommended
January 3, 2026
Grown up watching Tarby on the telly. This book read like a conversation. Was very interesting. Was a great reminder of all of his career on stage and screen. And was blown away by his friendships and meetings with legends from all decades.
Great book, very much enjoyed.
Great book, very much enjoyed.
April 28, 2026
An enjoyable read showing the rise of one of Britain’s best known comedians Jimmy Tarbuck.
The stories of his early life are amusing and interesting showing an insight into the swinging sixties and the influence of Liverpool on the arts at that time.
The stories of his early life are amusing and interesting showing an insight into the swinging sixties and the influence of Liverpool on the arts at that time.
November 12, 2025
Ho ho! A romp through Jimmy’s career. He’s certainly had a good time. An enjoyable read.
May 28, 2026
Fantastic read
Jimmy has had an amazing life and has written a wonderful account of it.
He certainly has brought laughter to millions of people. Brilliant!
Jimmy has had an amazing life and has written a wonderful account of it.
He certainly has brought laughter to millions of people. Brilliant!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews