| Jimmy Jones | |
| Birthname: | Albert Simmonds |
| Birth Date: | 1938 2, df=yes |
| Birth Place: | Southampton, Hampshire, England |
| Nationality: | British |
| Occupation: | Comedian |
| Years Active: | 1962-present |
Albert Simmonds (born 9 February 1938), better known by the stage name Jimmy Jones, is a British stand-up comedian, with a reputation for being "outspoken".[1]
Jones was born as Albert Simmonds, on 9 February 1938 in Southampton, England.[2] He grew up in Rainham, Essex, attending a Catholic school, and initially wanting to train as a priest.[1]
Jones's autobiography, Now This is a Very True Story, written with the aid of Garry Bushell, was published in 2010.[3]
Jones first appeared on stage in 1962 at the Dagenham Working Men's Club, on the same bill as Max Bygraves.[4] Granada Television discovered Jones in a Walthamstow pub in 1970, recruiting him for their popular Saturday night show, The Comedians.[5]
Jones' catchphrase 'Kin' ell' was a play on words, derived from footballer George Kinnell.
In 1983, Jones was presented with what is reported to have been the first gold disc for a comedy album, after his Live from the Talk of East Anglia (1981) achieved 100,000 sales.[6] He was the first stand-up comedian to release a video of his live shows, and in the early 1980s had three videos in the UK top ten.[4] In 1994, The Independent reported that Jones was then "alleged to be the highest-paid stand-up comedian in Britain".[5]
Celebrating fifty-six years in show business in 2018, Jones announced new tour dates.[7]