Who is Bob “the Cat”?
In show business we think he’s the bees’ knees. He’s the most sought-after after dinner speak in the country and that’s a fact
Bob, referred to in The Stage as “Britain’s leading after-dinner speaker,” is probably the first person to be honoured by HM the Queen for after-dinner speaking.
He is also the first after-dinner speaker to be selected for “Who’s Who” which includes “only those who have reached the pinnacle of achievement in their chosen field.”
He is now in demand all over the world. He has three times toured Australia and is due back again for the 2013-14 Ashes Tour. In the past 12 months he has appeared in Bahrain, Singapore, Thailand and the West Indies.
Starting as a sporting speaker, he has spoken at 77 of the 92 Premier and Football League clubs, as well as countless, cricket, rugby, golf and other sports functions.
He is a regular on Channel 4’s “Countdown”, followed Danny Baker as host of BBC Radio 5’s “Six O Six” and became a fixture with Sir Terry Wogan on “Auntie’s Bloomers”.
We had some great comments and the evening was very successful so thank you again. Some guests who attended the evening came back this week for lunch and couldn’t stop talking about it
Gerard Basset, Founder of Hotel de Vin and Hotel TerraVina after Bob’s new one-man show in January 2010.
Bob and Barry Cryer
Today he is also regarded as a fine corporate comedian, presenter and awards host. Unlike his goalkeeping he is a “safe pair of hands” with clean material.
“Bob “the Cat” Bevan and Barry Cryer”
Willie Rushton when asked to name his favourite after dinner speakers
His business background – he was PR Director for a major PLC for 14 years and is still a Member of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and the National Union of Journalists – makes him an ideal choice for the corporate market.
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 interviewing in his own unique humourous style.
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.
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, on Sky, Steve Bruce and Harry Redknapp.
Today he is not just an after-dinner speaker and comic, he is also a radio presenter, awards host, master of ceremonies, auctioneer, author (his book “Nearly Famous was a best-seller), journalist, scriptwriter, speechwriter, poet and, just occasionally, still a PR consultant.
One of Britain’s funniest after dinner comedians
Watch Part I of 'the Cat' in action and Part II here