Jimmy Tamley…Working Class Hero

I sat down with Jimmy Tamley at the 2025 Ventriloquist Convention. I was immediately struck with his sincerity but just as important, the sense that this was a performer who has pretty much seen it all in his career. There is nothing quite like a maturity that can only be gained through experience in this business. Thus the title of this article. It is not only a tip of the hat to the John Lennon song,(Jimmy's a fan) but also an apt description of a real pro who has remained a decent human being through decades of being in the showbiz trenches.

When he performed at the convention last year, he “killed,” to use a showbiz term. Not an easy accomplishment when playing to 600 ventriloquists.

Of course Jimmy's career has been stellar. A winner of ITV's New Faces in Britain, he has toured working all of the cruise lines, (At this writing he is cruising/working in the Canary Islands) in addition to some of the biggest corporate gigs in the world including a stop at Number 10 Downing Street.

Jimmy is also a mentor, having been instrumental in the career beginnings of Ventriloquist Steve Hewlett. (Vent-o-Gram February 2025)

Jimmy, in the most honorable sense is a "Working Class Hero" as you will see.

It is a pleasure to present this VOG interview.

How did you feel about your performance at the convention?

It’s hard working in front of an audience of ventriloquists.  My whole premise is ‘set up and punch’ gags.  It is my whole focus.  You know, to get in front of an audience and hear laughs.  I think we accomplished that.

The Lightening Les character you have is fantastic.  Where did the idea come from?

The inspiration came from a comedian I knew who did a boxing routine.  I didn’t steal his routine, but it got me to thinking about doing a boxer character. And that is how Lightening Les came about. In the routine, it becomes one mishap after another. Frankly it has been a game changer for me.  The gags work every time. I last did the routine in America at the Vegas Convention in 2008.

So I was wondering a bit if it would work again at the convention. It did!

Who made thed boxer?

Verna Finley. 

How did you become a ventriloquist?

I was 14 in 1968.   I’m from an Irish/Catholic family.  I had seen a ventriloquist on the Telly and I asked for a figure for Christmas.  So, I went to a little toy store and there was this figure.  So I told my Mum. She bought it for me and hid it in the attic. When my parents went to church on Sunday, I would sneak up to the attic and practice with the figure. I did that for four months before I received it as a gift for Christmas! (Laughter)

During this time I went to the library. I had never seen the word ventriloquist spelled. So I looked it up. Spelled it out. V E N T R I L O Q U I S T and when sources came up I thought "Wow." I got giddy. Anyway, I checked out a couple of books at the library.

I thought, this must be my calling.

What books?

Ventriloquism for Beginners Douglas Holden and Ventriloquism from A-Z by Douglas Craggs.

The next few years was a process of trial and error.  I watched a lot of TV looking for ventriloquists.  You never knew when they would show up on the telly.  During that time I wrote to some magic shops and got some ventriloquist scripts.  And I started doing little shows. 

You mentioned, ‘calling.’ How is that defined?

It is a feeling that comes over you.  Just looking at the word, Ventriloquism, did it for me.  It all happened in a moment. You know, I had so many bad shows in my teenage years.  My Dad used to say to me, “You know, you can’t do the same show over and over again, because everyone you’re playing shows for has seen you before.”  So I would be writing different shows and never really honing in on the jokes. Then I joined a company called Spotlight. It was a review company. All amateurs, but the best of the best. I stayed with them for two years and it really brought my game up. Eventually the lady that ran the company said, "It's time for you to go pro." That's what I did.

Do you write your own material?

I do. Before comedy clubs came along, I would work seaside production shows.  (Coastal resort shows) You have to adapt to that situation.  So writing is important.

I think every vent with a well defined character needs to be able to write for that character.

Was there a point when you went pro?

Well, yes, but it was kind of an evolution as well.   I was working Holiday Parks.  (Similar to RV parks in this country)  I would work a season there.  I would come back and audition for Pantomine Productions, (Musical/comedy theater) then got my equity card and things just kind of progressed.  I started vent in 68 and would say that I turned pro in 1978.

Obviously you must have been influenced by other vents.  Who were they?

There were two.  Ray Alan and Roger De Courcey.  Roger won ‘New Faces’ which was an English Talent show.  That was in 1975.  I really liked Roger because he was so versatile.  Plus, he got laughs. Very much a comedian. I really liked that.

Roger De Courcey

As opposed to Ray Alan, De Courcey was more of a set up and punch guy?

Definitely, and that really appealed to me. And then in 1980 I went on “Search for Stars” a talent show on TV. 

What did you do?

They put me on a Hells Angels Motorcycle with a Hells Angels dummy.  (Laughter).

Jimmy with his Hells Angels get-up

What is the difference between English and American audiences?

If i’m on a ship, and the audience is English, the humor has a lot of innuendo.  American audiences are more politically correct.  On the other hand when American audiences laugh, they are very vocal.  But when you get a mix of the two, English and American, they are the best crowd. 

And yet, this week, you have had to work an American audience of ventriloquists.  Stock humor can be a death blow, because they have heard and seen all of that before.

No stock gags!

Yes, a lot of the stock stuff which gets a big reaction from regular audiences only gets stares from an audience of ventriloquists!  (Laughter).

Where did you learn your technique?  Your distant voice and sound effects and all that sort of thing.

Out of books.  And the Telly.  I first came to the convention in 1985.  But, I had a date in Canada and took a bus to Cincinnati.  I fell asleep on the bus and ended way south of Ft. Mitchell!  (Laughter). So by the time I got back I barely made the evening shows.  But, to answer your question, when VHS came along, it really opened my eyes to other vents in the business.  So between the convention and VHS technology I learned a lot about the craft. 

Steve Hewlett considers you his mentor.  How old was he when he came to you?

Twelve. 

Steve, biker and Jimmy

What did you see there that caused you to think, “I need to help this kid.”

First off, his persistence.  I had won “New Faces,” (A highly popular British television show)

This was before the internet and other technology.  So it was really a big deal.  All the kids in my neighborhood were always coming by for autographs and that sort of thing.  Steve was one of those.  After things died down, he kept coming back…He would ask, “Where can i learn ventriloquism”. I said “If you’re really interested, go get the Ray Alan book. And if you’re still interested, I’ll give you some lessons.”  Well he came back.

Ray Alan

Did you two live close to each other?

Literally, about a five minute walk.  So, I gave him a few tips and things.  Over the next few weeks and years, we would sit down and watch those VHS performances i spoke about.  We used to drink hot chocolate and watch vents.  When he was about 14 or 15 he started figuring out what he wanted to do.  Then he started coming to my gigs and what have you. So, he had a chance to see me ‘kill’ and ‘bomb’ in different situations.  It was a real education for him. 

When did you perceive that he had the talent?

I saw that very early in the game.  Like I said, he was very persistent about it and I saw that.  He really wanted to do it.  By the time he was 14 or 15 he had acquired a few puppets and had some publicity shots made.  Plus, in addition to coming to my performances, he would go and watch other variety acts and usually come back with a photo of him and the act.  He was hungry.  He used to call meeting other acts, ‘Meetings’…..(laughter). They were really photo opts.  I still give him grief about that!

(Laughter)

When he did Britain's Got Talent were you involved in coaching him?

No, not really. I was working Cruise ships at the time, so I was away so much.  He kept me apprised of what was going on though.  He did great.

Any markets you have worked that you really liked?  And what about the ones you didn’t?

I really like corporate work.  However, corporate can be up and down.  I listen to a lot of comedian podcast and there is a lot of consensus that corporate can be hard.  On and off again from company to company you know?  There is a love/hate relationship with corporate work, and its not just me.  But, the money is good, thats why we do it.  The cruise ship on the other hand will give you the glory.  Good sound, lights, good room, etc.  But the downside is the traveling and being away all the time. 

What about fairs and festivals?

A few.  Working in a tent.  (Laughter). They have a thing in Europe called ‘Fly-backs.’  Where you go into a resort.  They have a sound system set up by a pool and you do your act!  (Laughter). Its a hotel chain thing and they run acts in two or three times  a week.  People are just around the pool, the PA is set up and you're performing for a half naked audience.  (Laughter).

Worst gig you ever had?

I’ve had quite a few over the years.  (Laughter). I was once on a corporate golf event with a few other comedians.  It was a banquet situation and they would have a comedian on after every course.  And most of the comedians were blue.  I got on about 11 pm at night. I came out, started into my act, and nothing.  No response.  Every joke is dying and I’m editing material on the spot and going through all my puppets.  I’m thinking, “Lets get to the main jokes.”  They were dying.  So, I get the boxer out, and you know the routine, everything is going wrong.  Well the audience is laughing, or at least a few, but they are not laughing because they like me and everything is going wrong, they are laughing because they DON’T like me and everything is going wrong. (Laughter). I finally said, “Well, enjoy you’re night,” and got off the stage.  It was absolutely humiliating. 

Everyone has been there.

Yeah but then I had to pack up and all the audience members are saying things like, “So sorry mate.”  “That was tough.”  You know, sympathy votes.  I got in my car and wept.  Plus, the pay was really low.

Is corporate market healthy in Britain?

It was tough after covid, but it is getting better now.  However, the whole political correctness thing has completely gotten out of hand in corporate. 

Have you had to change your act over the years because of political correctness?

Yes, definitely.  However, it is often the old adage, it is not what you say, but how you say it.  On the other hand, there are a lot of areas we used to be able to go to, but simply cannot any more.  Sex, wives etc. 

What about retirement?

No I don’t think so.  I still enjoy it.  Curiously awhile back a whole new market developed for me.   One time, the lady I was married to at the time signed me up to do a kids show.  She signed me up for a half hour.  I had five minutes. (Laughter). Well, a teacher sees me and likes the act.  The word starts getting out that I’m not like the magicians because I have all these characters that talk.  By the way, I have spent a fortune on Axtell puppets!  (Laughter). So over the next year I work up about an hour's worth of kid material.  I started getting this huge reputation.  Eventually, I end up doing school shows and win entertainer of the year several years in a row.  So then I moved the whole idea to theaters and started selling theaters as the “Jungle Jim Show.” 

The Jungle Jim Show

It was really great and in addition to my regular corporate shows, it became another source of income for me.   So, I’m not going to retire.   I’ll just keep going. 

Steve Hewlett considers you his mentor.  How do you feel about that?

He builds me up quite a bit.  You know, like I taught him everything he knows.  That’s a bit of crap.  (Laughter). I gave him some tips you know.  Steve’s love of the craft, his enthusiasm and his own skill has made him what he is.  Today, I’m not a mentor to Steve Hewlett.  We are friends.  And we share as friends would share.  The ups and the downs of the business and the ups and downs of life.  But, I am really proud of him.  Here is the thing about Steve.  His love of ventriloquism knows no bounds.  Much more than mine.

Do you consider yourself a ventriloquist or comedian. 

Well, I’m more like Jeff Dunham you know.   I'm not so concerned with doing 'ventriloquist bits,' like throwing your voice into a box or telephone or what have you. I think like a standup. I know I’m a ventriloquist for sure, but ventriloquism is the medium I use to get laughs.

So, it is about laughter.

Spot on.

 To find out more about Jimmy, go here: Jimmytamley.com

Next time. A personal reflection of my encounters with figure maker/ventriloquist Ken Spencer!

Salute!

D

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