Top entertainer Joe Longthorne is coming to the Epsom Playhouse on Wednesday 13 November to the delight of his legions of fans.

It was through the London Weekend Television series ‘Search for a Star' in 1981 that Joe first became known to the British TV audiences as a singer and impressionist. Proving popular with TV audiences he was given his own prime time TV series ‘The Joe Longthorne Show' that ran from 1988-1991.

An appearance at the Royal Variety Performance in 1989 secured Joe's place as one of the UK's top entertainers but just as he reached this pinnacle of fame he was taken ill and struck down with lymphoma.

Responding well to treatment Joe's tenacity and determination to get back on stage saw him take on a gruelling UK tour and a trip to Australia.

However just as his star was rising once again, bad mismanagement of his finances by previous managers saw him plunged into bankruptcy and the illness that had been under control worsened and deteriorated into life-threatening leukaemia.

The next few years saw Joe bravely battle the illness with visits in and out of hospital and yet courageously continued to appear on stage giving performances that made him an inspiration for many. In 2006 at his most seriously ill he underwent a bone marrow transplant that was to save his life.

Later that year he performed again to a sell-out audience at the London Palladium and in 2007 was awarded a lifetime achievement award by the Variety Club of Great Britain.

In December 2012 Joe received the MBE.

Tickets for this show are £20 and are on sale now and can be booked by going to: www.epsomplayhouse.co.uk or by calling the Box Office on 01372 742555. You can also find us on facebook: epsom.playhouse

Based on information supplied by Mary Zoeller.

 


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