The Krankies’ combined net worth is estimated at £2–3 million as of 2026. Ian and Janette Tough — the husband-and-wife duo behind one of Scotland’s most beloved comedy acts — built their fortune over five decades of television, pantomime, and live performance. Janette, performing as the perennially naughty schoolboy Wee Jimmy Krankie, and Ian as her long-suffering foil, became household names across the UK in the 1980s and have never truly left public life since. At an age when most entertainers have long retired, The Krankies continue to sell out theatres across Scotland every Christmas season.
| Names | Ian Tough (born 5 Nov 1947) & Janette Tough (born 6 May 1945) |
|---|---|
| Ages | Ian: 78; Janette: 81 (2026) |
| Birthplaces | Ian: Partick, Glasgow; Janette: Queenzieburn, Stirlingshire |
| Married | 1969 (57 years together) |
| Nationality | Scottish / British |
| Profession | Comedians, Entertainers, Pantomime Performers |
| Combined Net Worth | £2–3 Million (2026 estimate) |
| Known For | “Wee Jimmy Krankie,” The Krankies TV Show, UK pantomime |
The Krankies Net Worth Breakdown
| Income Source | Estimated Amount | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Television Work (1970s–1990s) | Significant earnings | Cumulative | BBC/ITV appearances, Crackerjack, The Krankies TV Show |
| Annual Pantomime Runs | £150K–300K/year (combined) | Annual (personal) | Glasgow Pavilion and UK theatre venues, December–January seasons |
| Live Performance & Touring | £100K–200K/year (combined) | Annual (personal) | UK variety tours, corporate events, charity shows |
| TV Guest Appearances | £50K–100K/year (combined) | Annual (personal) | Celebrity Big Brother, nostalgia programmes, chat shows |
| Property & Savings | Estimated £1–1.5M | Cumulative | Accumulated over 50+ years in entertainment |
| Combined Estimated Net Worth | £2–3 Million (2026) | ||
Early Life
Janette Tough was born on 6 May 1945 in Queenzieburn, Stirlingshire, Scotland. Standing at just 4 feet 5 inches (135 cm), she has been described as one of the shortest professional entertainers in the history of British show business. Her petite stature — rather than limiting her — became the cornerstone of one of the most distinctive comedy personas in UK entertainment history. Growing up in post-war Scotland, Janette was drawn to performance from an early age, drawn to the warmth and community she found in the world of variety entertainment.
Ian Tough was born on 5 November 1947 in Partick, Glasgow — a working-class area on the south bank of the River Clyde with a proud tradition of producing musicians, comedians, and entertainers. The pair met in the Scottish entertainment circuit during the late 1960s when both were working the variety club and cabaret circuit that thrived in Scotland and northern England. They married in 1969, beginning a union that has now lasted more than 57 years and represents one of British show business’s greatest love stories as well as its most enduring professional partnerships.
The comedy character of Wee Jimmy Krankie was developed during their early years on the circuit. The conceit — Janette, as a small adult woman, convincingly playing a naughty schoolboy — drew on pantomime dame traditions while adding something entirely new: genuine surprise and delight at the illusion itself. Audiences who had never seen anything quite like it responded immediately. Ian’s role as the taller, more conventionally proportioned foil gave the act its dynamic contrast and gave Jimmy someone to antagonise. The act was tight, tested, and built for the stage.
Rise to Television Fame
The Krankies’ breakthrough into national television came in the late 1970s when they began appearing on popular variety programmes. Their BBC series The Krankies Elektrified (1977) introduced the act to a nationwide audience, and The Krankies Television Show (1982–1983) cemented their status as household names — particularly with younger viewers who adored Jimmy Krankie’s anarchic antics. The show’s family-friendly energy and the sheer novelty of the Wee Jimmy Krankie character made it appointment viewing on a Saturday evening.
Their most persistent television association is with Crackerjack, the BBC children’s variety programme that ran from 1955 to 1984. The Krankies became regular fixtures on the show during its final years, performing sketches perfectly calibrated for the family audience. The programme was a British institution — generations of children grew up watching it after school on Fridays — and its association with The Krankies kept them firmly in the national consciousness throughout the early 1980s.
Through the 1990s, as mainstream television evolved and the traditional variety format faded, The Krankies pivoted to pantomime — and thrived. The Glasgow Pavilion Theatre became their spiritual home, and they have appeared in Christmas pantomime seasons there for decades. Pantomime in Scotland and northern England has a deeply loyal following that television ratings cannot measure. The Krankies’ combination of nostalgic variety comedy, genuine audience rapport, and family-friendly spectacle made them perennial sell-outs.
Career Highlights & Later Work
The Krankies’ television profile received a significant boost through their appearance on Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. The programme introduced them to a generation of younger viewers who may never have seen their 1980s television work, and their good-natured performances generated warm media coverage. The Celebrity Big Brother appearance sparked a nostalgia revival that brought renewed bookings, television guest slots, and a fresh wave of public affection.
They also appeared on various nostalgia programmes, comedy retrospectives, and panel shows through the 2000s and 2010s, keeping them in the public eye between pantomime seasons. The rise of social media created yet another avenue for their comedy to reach new audiences, with clips from their 1980s television appearances regularly going viral among people who had grown up watching them and were now introducing the act to their own children.
By the 2020s, The Krankies had achieved something rare in entertainment: they had outlasted trends, format changes, and entire television eras to remain a genuine draw on the live circuit. Their pantomime performances continued to sell out, and they remained booked for charity events, corporate entertainment, and special appearances. For many Scottish families, a Krankies pantomime is an annual Christmas tradition spanning multiple generations.
Personal Life
Ian and Janette Tough have been married since 1969 — a 57-year partnership that is simultaneously one of British show business’s great love stories and one of its most enduring professional collaborations. They have spoken in interviews about the challenges and rewards of working so closely together, noting that a shared commitment to entertaining audiences has always been the foundation of both their marriage and their act.
Janette has spoken openly about her height throughout her career. Early in life it caused personal difficulty, but she came to understand that what might have seemed like a limitation was actually the very thing that made her unique. No one else could play Wee Jimmy Krankie. The character required precisely her combination of physical presence, comedic timing, and the ability to inhabit the spirit of a mischievous child while being a fully formed adult professional. The couple are based in Scotland and have maintained close ties to the Scottish entertainment community, regularly supporting emerging Scottish performers and charitable causes throughout their career.
Net Worth History
The Krankies’ wealth was built gradually over five decades. Their 1980s television peak was almost certainly their highest-earning media period, with BBC fees for regular television series constituting substantial income at a time when top light entertainment acts commanded significant sums. The move into pantomime through the 1990s and 2000s created a more modest but highly consistent income stream — less glamorous than prime-time television but arguably more financially stable, since pantomime audiences are famously loyal and less subject to ratings volatility. Their combined net worth of £2–3 million represents a lifetime of steady, disciplined work in a notoriously unpredictable industry.
Little-Known Facts
- Janette Tough stands at approximately 4 feet 5 inches tall — consistently cited as one of the shortest professional entertainers in UK show business history, a fact she has always embraced rather than avoided.
- The couple have been married since 1969, making theirs one of the longest dual personal and professional partnerships in British entertainment history.
- The catchphrase “Fan-dabi-dozi!” from the Jimmy Krankie character entered mainstream British pop culture and remains widely recognised more than 40 years after the character first appeared on national television.
- The Krankies’ Celebrity Big Brother appearance in 2002 is credited with sparking a major nostalgia revival that extended their career considerably and introduced their act to a whole new generation of fans.
- Their annual pantomime runs at the Glasgow Pavilion typically sell out weeks in advance — a testament to the enduring loyalty of Scottish audiences to traditional variety entertainment and to The Krankies specifically.
What is The Krankies’ combined net worth in 2026?
The Krankies — Ian and Janette Tough — have a combined estimated net worth of approximately £2–3 million as of 2026. This wealth has been built over more than 50 years in the entertainment industry, primarily through BBC television work in the 1970s–1990s, decades of annual pantomime performances, and ongoing live entertainment bookings.
Who is Wee Jimmy Krankie?
Wee Jimmy Krankie is the comedy character played by Janette Tough of The Krankies. Despite being a grown woman, Janette plays a mischievous Scottish schoolboy complete with school cap, short trousers, pigtails, and a penchant for misbehaviour. The character’s catchphrase is “Fan-dabi-dozi!” — a phrase of enthusiastic approval that entered everyday British speech during the height of The Krankies’ television popularity in the 1980s.
How old are The Krankies?
As of 2026, Janette Tough is 81 years old (born 6 May 1945) and Ian Tough is 78 years old (born 5 November 1947). Despite their ages, they have remained active in UK entertainment, particularly through annual Christmas pantomime seasons at Scottish venues. Their longevity in the industry is remarkable and speaks to their continued connection with audiences.
Were The Krankies on Celebrity Big Brother?
Yes — The Krankies appeared on Celebrity Big Brother in 2002. Their appearance on the reality show introduced them to a younger generation of viewers who may not have been familiar with their 1980s television work, and generated considerable warm media coverage. The appearance is widely credited with reigniting public interest in The Krankies and extending their career significantly into the 21st century.
What shows were The Krankies on?
The Krankies are best known for BBC’s Crackerjack (where they were regular performers), The Krankies Elektrified (1977), and The Krankies Television Show (1982–1983). They also appeared on Celebrity Big Brother (2002) and have made guest appearances on numerous British variety, nostalgia, and panel programmes over the decades. Their live pantomime work, particularly at the Glasgow Pavilion, has been a constant throughout their career.
Are The Krankies still performing?
Yes — as of 2026, The Krankies continue to perform, primarily through annual Christmas pantomime seasons. Their shows at the Glasgow Pavilion and other Scottish venues remain sell-outs, demonstrating the extraordinary longevity of their appeal. For many Scottish families, attending a Krankies pantomime has become a multi-generational Christmas tradition passed down from grandparents to grandchildren.