Jimmy Wheeler

Who was Jimmy Wheeler?

Jimmy Wheeler was a British variety theatre comedian and pioneer of radio and television.

Born Ernest Remnant in Battersea, he acquired the name Jimmy from George Formby, 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 musician and fellow Londoner Ian Dury. Wheeler was popular in London and the South of England, but his act was sometimes less well received in Northern England and Scotland.

Wheeler 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 résumés of well-known operas, which he entitled 'Hopra for the higgerant',.