Jimmy Cricket

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Relishing summer return to Club Tropicana 150 150 mhamer

Relishing summer return to Club Tropicana

Hi folks looking forward to getting back to treading the boards again! #savevariety

Jimmy Cricket is “looking forward to treading the boards again” when he returns to Club Tropicana in July.

Like so many other entertainers, he has done few live shows during the past year because of the coronavirus restrictions.

With an end to the third lockdown in sight, Jimmy is taking bookings again and Club Tropicana is confirmed for mid-summer.

The famous funnyman returns to the 2,000-seater venue in Skegness on Friday 16 July.

The club, based on the Golden Palm Resort Holiday Park, hosts a variety of acts including live bands, singers and comedians.

Jimmy said: “Looking forward to getting back to treading the boards again! #savevariety.”

Club Tropicana said: “Jimmy Cricket is without doubt a 1980s comedy icon.

“With his trademark wellington boots, his famous letters from his Mammy and his catchphrases of ‘come closer’ and ‘there’s more’, he holds the hearts of all those that were original fans of his television and radio shows.

“His shows are as hilarious as ever, winning him new fans wherever he performs.

“Jimmy remains one of the few completely family friendly comedians currently on tour.”

Supporting Jimmy on 16 July at Club Tropicana is Faye Horne’s Diva Show.

Admission is free to members and holiday pass holders.

For more details on Jimmy’s latest show there, ring the box office hotline on 01754 874444 (option one).

Also read: Great night at Club Tropicana in Skegness

The day I ended up in court facing a hefty fine… 150 150 mhamer

The day I ended up in court facing a hefty fine…

True story! Going back decades here is this months @leponline column, here I'm sharing my humble beginnings in the world of showbusiness, which doesn't get much funnier than this! 

Jimmy Cricket was once summoned to court for not doing something he didn’t even know he had to do!

In the 1970s, before he was famous, the Northern Irishman fell foul of the TV licensing authorities.

He revealed his story in his Lancashire Post column.

Jimmy posted on social media: “Hi folks! True story!

“Going back decades here is this month’s @leponline column.

“Here I’m sharing my humble beginnings in the world of showbusiness, which doesn’t get much funnier than this! #savevariety”

His column said: “I’m going back a bit now – 1973. I was in my mid-20s and trying to eke out a living as a comedian in the Northern clubs.

“My girlfriend and soon-to-be-my-wife May and her sister Margaret did a sing­ing act under the name, The Tweedie Sisters.

“We both landed a week’s booking at the Norbreck Ho­tel in Blackpool. However, it didn’t quite turn out that way.

“Oh, the girls had a great week finishing their act to tumultuous applause every evening.

“I, however, didn’t make it past the Sunday. To be honest I was a bit rough round the edges, and when I didn’t get too many laughs on the opening night, the hotel manager fired me.

Disbelieving glance

“So while the girls trav­elled back and forth to Black­pool every night, (Margaret’s boyfriend Graham had a car), I sat alone in the flat we all shared in Stockport trying to figure out a new act.

“It was on the Tuesday night that the doorbell rang. I’d barely opened the door when a guy pushed past me.

“I followed behind him in hot pursuit calling out, ‘Hi, what is this?’ until he stopped with a jolt in the middle of the living room and, pointing to the corner, shout­ed: ‘Have you got a licence for that television?’

“I explained that my fian­cee had ordered it from a lo­cal shop a few weeks before.

“Then I naively enquired: ‘Doesn’t the rental cover the cost of the licence?’ He threw me a disbelieving glance, wrote something in his book and marched straight out the door.

“A summons duly arrived a few weeks later for me to appear in court, where I paid a hefty fine, not for some­thing I did but for something I didn’t know I had to do.

“Don’t get me wrong folks. I’m a big fan of the BBC. What’s not to like about it?

“They do the best period cos­tume dramas. They give us uninterrupted coverage of top sporting events and the best movies, and their news coverage is the envy of the world.

“Just like the National Health Service it’s a quintessential British institution and I couldn’t imagine life without it.

“I just hope they have nicer people driving their detector vans these days than the guy I got in Stockport.”

Also read: The first time I met Bobby Ball

The Lancashire Post website

‘Wonderful news in these gloomy times!’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Wonderful news in these gloomy times!’

Jimmy Cricket will do a New Year's Eve show at the Lyndene Hotel in BlackpoolJimmy Cricket has welcomed the news that two Blackpool hotels which had closed are back in business.

Earlier this month, the famous funnyman had expressed his sadness that the Lyndene and sister hotel St Chads had shut their doors for the final time.

However, the Blackpool Gazette reports that the two hotels are ready to return to business, with their managers re-employed.

Jimmy has appeared regularly at the popular Lyndene over the past few years.

He said: “Wonderful news in these gloomy times for Blackpool and ⁦@LyndeneHotel and for all the staff at #TeamLyndene and St Chads Hotels!

“We were all hoping for a miracle! Great news!”

His performances at the Lyndene were limited during 2020 following the restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jimmy did his last show there in September before another lockdown again resulted in the closure of hospitality venues.

Owners the Fragrance Group announced the Lyndene and St Chad’s hotels will now be run by hotel management company RBH, which has taken over operations with immediate effect.

The hotels were shut suddenly with staff left unpaid on 3 February by operating firm Bespoke Hotels Group.

The Blackpool Gazette added that a number of staff made redundant will be offered employment soon.

It is hoped hotels will reopen this spring when lockdown restrictions are lifted.

The Lyndene and St Chads stand next to each other on the seafront.

Husband and wife team Paul and Claire Swift manage both.

Jimmy has had five seasons in total at the Lyndene, which starred as the Le Ponderosa in the second series of Peter Kay’s TV hit comedy Phoenix Nights.

Also read: Jimmy Cricket ‘so sad’ over closure of Blackpool hotels
Welcome Back from the Storm show taking bookings! 150 150 mhamer

Welcome Back from the Storm show taking bookings!

Welcome back from the storm

Jimmy Cricket is now taking bookings for his music and laughter show, entitled Welcome Back from the Storm.

The popular Northern Irish comedian hopes the current vaccination programme means live performances will be back on the cards sooner rather than later.

Jimmy will offer his usual unoffensive brand of comedy, with wife May Marion (her stage name) providing the perfect music accompaniment with her singing.

His message to all theatre managers is that Welcome Back from the Storm is now taking bookings for 2021/22.

He tells them: “Just ring us on 01706 353545 or 01706 412552.”

Theatres and other entertainment venues have had to close for most of the time during the past 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, more than 15 million people in the UK have now had their first coronavirus vaccine.

It has lifted hopes that some or many of the current restrictions will be lifted by Easter.

***************************

A while ago, Jimmy came up with a perfect ditty to keep our spirits going during the latest lockdown.

The famous funnyman adapted the words of an old war-time favourite, Roll out the Barrel.

And he recorded his very own version on YouTube, called Roll out the Vaccine, which can be heard here.

It’s in reference to the roll-out of the various vaccines designed to protect people against coronavirus.

The UK government says every adult in the country will get the offer of a coronavirus vaccine by autumn this year.

Roll out the Barrel was particularly popular worldwide during World War II.

According to Wikipedia, Czech musician Jaromír Vejvoda composed the music in 1927.

It is also known as Beer Barrel Polka and The Barrel Polka.

Wikipedia said many others recorded and played the song.

They included The Andrews Sisters in the Glenn Miller Orchestra, Benny Goodman, Bobby Vinton and Billie Holiday.

It added: “During World War II, versions in many other languages were created and the song was popular among soldiers, regardless of their allegiances.

“The authors of the English lyrics were Lew Brown and Wladimir Timm.”

So, folks, Jimmy and May want us all to call up his vaccine version now and have a good old sing-along to it!

Jimmy’s Roll out the Vaccine song

Jimmy Cricket ‘so sad’ over closure of Blackpool hotels 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket ‘so sad’ over closure of Blackpool hotels

So sad to hear of another casualty of Covid, the closure of the wonderful Lyndene and St Chad’s Hotels in Blackpool. Our thoughts go out to Paul the Manager and Claire from #TowerTopEnts who worked so hard along with #TeamLyndene to keep going during these difficult unprecedented times! Me and Mrs C. want to thank you all for the many happy memories over the last five years! xxJimmy Cricket has expressed his sadness at the closure of two Blackpool hotels, including the Lyndene.

The famous Northern Ireland entertainer had appeared regularly at the Lyndene Hotel over the past few years.

His performances were limited during 2020 following the restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jimmy did his last show there in September before another lockdown again resulted in the closure of hospitality venues.

Last week he learned the Lyndene and sister hotel St Chads had shut their doors for the final time.

The LancsLive website reported: “Staff at two prominent Blackpool hotels have been let go without their final pay checks after the sites closed with no notice.

“Employees at the Lyndene and St Chads hotels on Blackpool Promenade were told yesterday (February 2) that they no longer had jobs.”

The article said both businesses had been dissolved.

Read the full story here

Lyndene and St Chads were prominent Blackpool hotels on the seafront, with 141 guest rooms in total.

Jimmy said: “So sad to hear of another casualty of Covid, the closure of the wonderful Lyndene and St Chad’s Hotels in Blackpool.

“Our thoughts go out to Paul the Manager and Claire from #TowerTopEnts who worked so hard along with #TeamLyndene to keep going during these difficult unprecedented times!

Jimmy Cricket will do a New Year's Eve show at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool

“Me and Mrs C. want to thank you all for the many happy memories over the last five years! xx.”

Jimmy had five seasons in total at the Lyndene.

Also read: Jimmy returns to his favourite Blackpool hotel

Please donate for Christie fundraiser Lee if you can 150 150 mhamer

Please donate for Christie fundraiser Lee if you can

Lee Martin is planning to run the Manchester Marathon in October in aid of The Christie.Jimmy Cricket has highlighted a friend’s intentions to run a marathon to raise money for The Christie charity in Manchester.

The Christie charity helps to provide enhanced services over and above what the NHS funds.

Donations and fundraising make a huge difference to the care and treatment it is able to provide to cancer patients and their families.

Read more about The Christie here

Lee Martin is planning to run the Manchester Marathon in October in aid of the cancer charity.

He hopes to raise at least £1,000.

Said Lee: “I’m running just over 26 miles in the land of Oasis and Vimto to raise money for The Christie.

“This amazing place is run by a bunch of superheros that put others before themselves as a matter of routine.

“And in the Covid-19 Pandemic that has gone to horrific levels.”

Lee said his dad had been battling cancer for almost 20 years.

“He’s not done that without an army of people behind him from the Christie,” he added.

“Without them, we would have lost him a long time ago. So I want to give something back, as small as this is.

“Please help me help them in anyway you can, however small.

“I am very aware this is a terrible time to ask for money, so do not worry if you are not able.

“But if you can, know that you’ll be supporting the incredible people doing incredible things on a daily basis.”

Lee’s JustGiving page added: “Donating through JustGiving is simple, fast and totally secure.

“Your details are safe with JustGiving – they’ll never sell them on or send unwanted emails.

“Once you donate, they’ll send your money directly to the charity.

“So it’s the most efficient way to donate – saving time and cutting costs for the charity.”

You can donate here

Famous entertainer Jimmy said: “My friend Lee Martin is fundraising for Christie’s as his Dad is currently undergoing treatment in these difficult times.

“Check out their @JustGiving page and please donate if you can. Thank you! #JustGiving.”

 

 

Covid: Jimmy Cricket has the vaccine jab in Rochdale 150 150 mhamer

Covid: Jimmy Cricket has the vaccine jab in Rochdale

Rochdale Borough Council said: Another busy week at our Covid-19 vaccination centres, as residents aged 75 and over started to be vaccinated, including popular Rochdale resident @jimmy__cricket who was bowled over with the process.

Jimmy Cricket received his vaccination jab to protect against Covid – and then encouraged everybody else to do the same when their time comes.

The famous funnyman got his first dose of the vaccine at Number One Riverside in Rochdale, where he lives.

Nearly five million people in the UK had had at least one dose of a vaccine as of Thursday (21 January), according to BBC News Online.

Rochdale Borough Council posted about Jimmy’s jab on social media and included a video of him talking about the experience.

‘So well organised’

It said: “Another busy week at our Covid-19 vaccination centres, as residents aged 75 and over started to be vaccinated, including popular Rochdale resident @jimmy__cricket who was bowled over with the process.

“Here’s Jimmy chatting after receiving his jab. #Covidvaccine”

Jimmy said: “It is so well organised. This vaccination will help us get back to normal, so please come along when you get the call.”

Watch Jimmy’s video message here.

He posted: “My grateful thanks to @RochdaleCouncil and JivaDr Dr Mo MBE and all the nurses and hard working staff this morning @RDaleRiverside for the Syringe vaccine programme being rolled out!

“As Humphrey Bogart said, “Here’s Looking At You Kid”. #COVID19Vaccines”

Jimmy Cricket posted after getting his first jab against Covid: My grateful thanks to @RochdaleCouncil and JivaDr Dr Mo MBE and all the nurses and hard working staff this morning @RDaleRiverside for the  vaccine programme that is being rolled out! As Humphrey Bogart said, “Here’s Looking At You Kid”. #COVID19Vaccines

Jimmy devised a perfect little ditty to keep our spirits going during the latest lockdown.

The ever-popular Northern Irish comedian adapted the words of an old war-time favourite, Roll out the Barrel.

He recorded his very own version for YouTube, called Roll out the Vaccine.

Roll out the Barrell

The UK government says every adult in the country can have a coronavirus vaccine by autumn this year.

Roll out the Barrel was particularly popular worldwide during World War II.

Sing along to Jimmy’s Roll out the Vaccine song