After Dinner SpeakersBob ‘The Cat’ Bevan MBE is a Broadcaster, Author and After-Dinner Speaker.
Bob made his first after dinner speech at his ‘old boys’ dinner in 1967. He turned professional in 1980.
Sport is Bob’s great love. He played football for West Wickham in the Southern Amateur League and Old Wilsonians in the Southern Olympian League for 25 years.
He achieved a lifelong ambition by playing at Wembley Stadium for Old Burnley against Old Wolves in front of 80,000 prior to a Cup Final.
Bob Bevan is a Trustee of the major cricket-based charity The Lord’s Taverners, and Honorary Barker in the Variety Club and a Member of the Grand Order of Water Rats.
He is a Vice President of Dulwich Hamlet FC, Old Wilsonians FC, Tonbridge Angels FC, Middlesex Wanderers FC and Frant CC.
While his nickname “the Cat” indicates his goalkeeping background – he is a top corporate comedian tailoring his act to the characters in the audience.
“Britain’s leading after-dinner speaker”
The Stage
As a comedian he has appeared all over the world including several tours of Australia from which he returned with rave reviews :- “Mate, your 40 minutes was the hit of the day. So many people came up to me afterwards to say how funny and engaging you were.” – David Shields, President Northcliffe Surf Club, Surfers Paradise, January 2018.
He has appeared at 77 of the 92 Premier and Football League Clubs, every County Cricket Club and over 100 Golf and Rugby Clubs.
Career highlights include:
- He was hired by Rod Stewart for his father’s 80th birthday party.
- Appeared with such comic greats as Ken Dodd, Frankie Howerd, Arthur Lowe and Eric Morecambe.
- Appeared with Muhammed Ali on BBC TV at Henry Cooper’s birthday celebrations.
- Stole the show at Eric Clapton’s 25 years in the music business dinner.
- Appeared in Australia with Michael Parkinson.
- Had his own cartoon strip in the Daily Express.
- Appeared on BBC Radio’s Trivia Test Match with Willie Rushton, Brian Johnston and Sir Tim Rice.
- Hired by Brighton to relax and amuse the team at the 1983 Cup Final
- He was flown to Sydney to speak at a benefit dinner for England cricket captain, Nasser Hussain and flown to Hong Kong for a lunch at the Rugby Sevens
Apart from his comedy speeches, Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan is also an excellent MC, and with his journalism and public relations background, makes an excellent facilitator.
He has made countless TV and radio appearances. He followed Danny Baker as presenter of BBC Radio 5’s Six-O-Six Show.
He made many regular TV appearances on shows such as Countdown and a regular slot on ‘Aunties Bloomers‘ with the late Sir Terry Wogan.
Awards include:
- Reuters Jackie Blanchflower Memorial Trophy
- Benedictine After Dinner Speakers Award
- Mail on Sunday After Dinner Speakers Hall of Fame
- MBE for Sevices to Charity Work and Sports Club Fund-Raising
There aren’t many people in the business he hasn’t worked with.
He was asked to appear in Ronnie and Friends at the Fairfield Halls with Ronnie Corbett, Jasper Carrott, Jimmy Tarbuck and Bruce Forsyth.
The list also includes The Bee Gees, Elkie Brooks, Eric Clapton, Phil Collins, Billy Connolly, David Essex, George Harrison, Bob Hoskins, Barry Humphries, Elton John, Elaine Paige and Rod Stewart.
He has appeared with several members of the Royal Family and alongside the late Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Runcie, one of the many public figures he has written for.
His best-selling book, Nearly Famous published by Virgin Books, has gone into paperback after two reprints in hardback. He has also written the foreword for a Green Umbrella publication F is for Football.
Bob ‘The Cat’ Bevan is a superb corporate comedian, after-dinner speaker and awards host. Unlike his goalkeeping, he is a “safe pair of hands” with clean material!
