Bob and Sam Mendes waiting to play at Lord's
UK's No 1 After Dinner Legend
I think it was the best stand-up I’ve ever heard
Mark Nicholas, TV Commentator
Bob “the Cat” Bevan MBE is now a legend on the circuit and in 2014 was named as President of the iconic National Sporting Club following in the footsteps of Lord Lonsdale, The Marquess of Queensbury and Lord Forte. This follows his year as President of Kent County Cricket Club – only the second entertainer to be named as President of a county club. The other was Sir Richard Stilgoe in 2005.
Whether corporate or sporting, whether hosting, presenting, interviewing or performing his hilarious (and clean) routines you just can't go wrong with Bob "the Cat" Bevan
Peter Joel, Chairman Roast Beef Club, April 2014
These days he has even branched out into interviewing. In his own humorous style – teasing but without losing respect – his recent interview with Sir John Major was such a success that they are doing it again.
He is often on Sky and has recently shared laughter with Alan Shearer, Harry Redknapp, Mick McCarthy, Bryan Robson, Peter Shilton and Steve Bruce.
In 2010 the Duke of Edinburgh even wrote a one-verse poem about Bob and the start of 2011 saw him Down Under entertaining Aussie audiences ranging from a lunch with former Prime Minister, John Howard, to functions out in the country districts. He's going back again in 2013.
Among his other interviewees one with Sir Alex Ferguson drew praise from the Mail on Sunday as the best interview they had ever seen with the world’s top football manager. He has also appeared with, Steve Harmison, Michael Vaughan and in 2012 was flown to the Middle East to work with the England cricket team.
Most speakers, certainly not excluding myself, are guilty of plagiarism, and even ‘new’ jokes are inevitably variations of old ones. I admire those who keep coming up with their own origianl stories, often with the help of professional comedy writers. Like the always funny favourite of many a Lord’s Taverners occasion, Bob Bevan. For years he has traded on being goalkeeper for the Old Wilsonians third XI (or lower). His gravelly voice and cockney accent help, but so does his topicality. He started telling stories weaved around Bobby Moore; now it is John Terry, Kevin Pietersen or whoever is in the news.
From “CMJ – A Cricketing Life" by the late Christopher Martin-Jenkins MBE
If you read his book , you will see that Bob “the Cat” Bevan MBE started making people laugh at the age of 10.
Before that he was shy and retiring. Hard to believe now.
After appearing at local functions for many years he stepped out in front of the notoriously difficult audience at the football writers’ Footballer of the Year Dinner in 1980 and his life changed for ever.
Soon “the Cat” was entertaining football audiences across the nation and within a year he was appearing at a corporate function with Billy Connelly and Jimmy Tarbuck.
Next came an LP – remember them? – of football jokes which can still be heard on British Airways Comedy Channel.
He had quickly become regarded as one of the funniest comics on the circuit - and still is!
With his journalistic and public relations background he was soon in great demand at corporate events as well as sporting dinners.
May I thank you most sincerely for a wonderfully entertaining 40 minutes...many have also expressed a favourable opinion as to just how humour can be portrayed without resorting to the depths of bad language
Roy Vintner, Chairman KFL Centenary Ball
His script-writing skills enabled him to tailor his act to suit all audiences and his poems and parodies are also much admired by those he has targeted – Lord Coe, David Gower, Roy Hudd, Gary Lineker and even the Duke of Edinburgh to name just a few.
Even Piers Morgan referred to Bob as “legendary” in his latest book and the Sunday Times , published one of his poems in their Business section.
His best-selling book 'Nearly Famous' (Book now available from Bob) , published by Virgin, needed two reprints in hardback and is still available in paperback.
Just trawling this site will bring a smile to your face but it won’t beat hearing the man himself – live!
Bevan is such an accomplished joke writer and orator
Johan Gernandt,Govenor of the Bank of Sweden