Jeremy Beadle - Prankster and Humanitarian

The TV presenter Jeremy Beadle has died. He was an extremely popular personality. Mr Beadle was fifty nine years old. He was much loved for his humour and his ability to perform wildly funny pranks. He was the presenter for: 

Game For a Laugh

Beadle’s About

You’ve Been Framed

Mr Beadle leaves behind his partner Sue. The couple’s children are Cassie, Bonnie, Leo and Claire. 

It was in 2005 that Mr Beadle was diagnosed with Leukaemia. He made it his business to raise funds for Children with Leukaemia. It is estimated that in his lifetime he raised in excess of 100 million pounds for a broad spectrum of charities. In spite of his health Mr Beadle continued to work. He wrote three books on new concepts for TV programmes that were released in 2007. 

In the 1980’s and 1990’s Jeremy Beadle was one of the star attractions on UK TV. Mr Beadle had a knack for convincing people of the most bizarre incidents. This only added to the enjoyment of his TV audiences. The prank that has received the most attention involved Janet Elford. Mr Beadle armed with his hidden camera persuaded a perfectly sane Janet that aliens had landed. 

This was not enough for Jeremy Beadle. Janet Elford was one hundred percent convinced that there was a space ship in her Dorset backyard. In fact Mr Beadle got her to sing a hymn to them. This was still not enough for Mr Beadle. He was only satisfied when Janet invited the aliens in for a cup of tea. Viewers were glued to their screens and were absolutely delighted at the outcome. 

Mr Beadle performed his pranks with every available resource. The ‘Dorset Alien’ prank was carried out with the help of the air corps, marines and the police. He spared no opportunity to be as convincing as possible. Yet Jeremy Beadle always took care never to disgrace his ‘victims’. This led to what could only be described as a love-hate relationship with his viewers. He said the ‘Dorset Alien’ prank was so hilarious ‘because the person we played it on was so wonderful’. 

The Independent newsprint had Mr Beadle write their trivia quiz on a weekly basis. The world renowned author Irving Wallace also made use of the talents of Mr Beadle. They worked together on a series that included:

The Book of Lists

The People’s Almanac

Mr Beadle did attract a huge amount of controversy. In 1998 he disclosed that he had assisted in a suicide. A close friend of his had motor neurone disease. The friend decided to end his life. Jeremy Beadle believed he should help his friend carry it out. Mr Beadle explained that he looked up to his friend’s bravery. 

Mr Beadle was awarded an MBE in February of 2001. The award was made to him for his services to charity. Jeremy Beadle admitted that he was ‘moved’ and that his ‘eyes welled up’. Mr Beadle will be remembered as a great prankster and an even greater humanitarian.