Jimmy Cricket

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Keeping a date with one of Blackpool’s favourite hotels 150 150 mhamer

Keeping a date with one of Blackpool’s favourite hotels

Jimmy Cricket enjoyed his second appearance of the year at his favourite Blackpool hotel.

Jimmy Cricket enjoyed his second visit of 2022 to his favourite Blackpool hotel.

The popular comedian performed once again at the seafront Lyndene (pictured below) on Wednesday (3 August).

He said later on social media: “Hi folks, keeping a date with one of Blackpool’s favourite hotels @LyndeneHotel #keepvarietyalive.”

The ever-green Northern Irish funnyman is back at the seaside venue on Wednesday 7 September.

Jimmy Cricket enjoyed his second appearance of the year at his favourite Blackpool hotel.

Jimmy started his SEVENTH season at the Lyndene back in early July – read about his 2022 return here.

He appears at the promenade hotel on the first Wednesday of every month until the end of the year.

The hotel’s website says: “Located on Blackpool’s glorious seafront, the Lyndene Hotel is the No 1 choice for hotels with entertainment in Britain’s favourite holiday destination.

“Situated amongst family attractions, glittering show venues, great shopping and Blackpool’s jewel, the Blackpool Tower, our hotel is in the prime position for your holiday base.

“With sweeping views across the Irish Sea, with incomparable sunsets and people-watching, the Lyndene Hotel has all the amenities to make your stay perfect.

Open 365 days a year

“Our entertainment keeps our guests returning to us again and again.

“We host up to four top cabaret and tributes acts each and every night of the year!”

The Lyndene appeared as Le Ponderosa in the second series of Peter Kay’s TV hit comedy Phoenix Nights.

See all Jimmy’s booked shows here.

Also read: ‘Jimmy set for a seventh season at the Lyndene

Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool

Facebook & Twitter profile photos show celebrities 150 150 mhamer

Facebook & Twitter profile photos show celebrities

Jimmy Cricket has changed his Facebook and Twitter profile pictures

The Facebook and Twitter profile pictures for Jimmy Cricket now show him with a host of fellow celebrities and friends.

The Northern Irish comedian has put the same image on both social media platforms.

The Krankies, plus the late entertainers Paul Daniels and Frank Carson, are among those on the photo.

Additionally, Tommy Cannon and his late comedy partner Bobby Ball feature on the picture.

Reaction to the new image has been very positive.
Gary Wilson said: “Wow my childhood in one photo! What an amazing lineup.”
And Rod Barry commented: “That’s a proper variety line up!
Paul Naylor described it as a “great picture”, adding that it was “variety at its best”.
Meanwhile, Michelle Carrots Campbell said: “Fabulous image of true talent. So many no longer with us…”
Jimmy has nearly 5,000 friends on Facebook, while his Twitter account has more than 9,000 followers.
The popular funnyman has just marked 12 years with a Twitter account.
He has been a Facebook member for a similar length of time.

Also read: Paying tribute to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy

Blackpool big night out

 

‘Comedy legend’ is focus of Irish Sun feature 150 150 mhamer

‘Comedy legend’ is focus of Irish Sun feature

Comedy legend Jimmy Cricket, 76, tells of troubled times and salutes ‘best of the Irish’ after 50 years in showbiz

An Irish newspaper has marked ‘comedy legend’ Jimmy Cricket’s 50 years in showbusiness with a fascinating article about his life and career.

Among many other things, Jimmy tells the Irish Sun about walking off stage after being verbally abused over terror attacks in Northern Ireland.

He highlighted the Irish Sun piece on social media, saying: “My thanks to Jason Johnson @IrishSunOnline who interviewed me about my life and times (while sharing some of my own personal experiences) in the world of showbusiness!”

The headline describes Jimmy as a “comedy legend”.

The feature reads: Laughs legend Jimmy Cricket has paid tribute to “the best of the Irish” who entertained millions through the darkest days of the Troubles.

The madcap star, who fronted his own prime-time ITV show in the 80s, saluted colleagues as he gears up to mark a mighty 50 years in showbiz.

In a revealing interview, Jimmy told of walking off stage after being hit with vile abuse over terror attacks in Northern Ireland.

And he told how he was criticised over his own befuddled Irish comedy creation.

Famed for his “c’mere, there’s more” catchphrase, Belfast’s beloved Jimmy has won countless fans worldwide and raised an untold fortune for good causes.

Now 76, the kind-hearted comic – real name Jimmy Mulgrew – still continues to gig weekly as Jimmy Cricket.

‘Sympathetic character’

Yet the comedy veteran has no plans at all to hang up the iconic L-R boots saying: “I’m going to bop ‘til I drop.”

Looking back over his career, which includes being honoured with a Papal Knighthood for his charity work, Jimmy said his goal has always been to entertain but never embarrass the audience.

He said his family-friendly alter ego, who receives regular ‘letters from mammy,’ is a “sympathetic character.”

He told the Irish Sun: “I want the audience to love me, to be honest.

“Maybe it is insecurity or needing reassurance, but I enjoy the sympathy for the downtrodden character.”

He said his Christian faith has “defined me I suppose, and the type of material I do”.

Yet the intentions directed towards the undertaker’s son have, in years gone by, not always been kind.

Lancashire-based Jimmy told of performing in Morecambe in the 70s “and I hadn’t been long in the business full-time”.

He added: “A fella came up to the front of the stage and he was remonstrating about the British soldiers getting killed on the streets.

“The audience was telling him to ‘sit down’ saying ‘it’s not a political rally’ and ‘the fella is just trying to make us happy.’

“Obviously he was escorted off by security but I was quite raw then and inexperienced.

“To be honest it upset me so much I walked off.”

‘I can’t change my accent’

He said as his popularity soared and the big breaks came, he was again targeted on stage – but this time over gags some felt “made fun of the Irish.”

Jimmy said: “I’ve seen both ends of the circle.

“I remember one particular time there was an organised shouting up to the stage about it.

“It’s the old story nobody kicks a dead dog. When you get a bit of fame obviously people latch on for their own reasons.

“My character obviously is going to be silly because that’s part of me. And I was born in Ireland and I can’t change my accent.

“But there was a lot of comics in the 70s who weren’t Irish doing Irish jokes and my fellow countrymen and women could maybe get a bit upset about that.

“I can understand that, but it’s all changed now. I get as many Irish as English come to my shows, which makes me feel really good.”

Read the full article here

Also read: Who was Jimmy’s hero while growing up in Belfast?

 

Who was Jimmy’s hero while growing up in Belfast? 150 150 mhamer

Who was Jimmy’s hero while growing up in Belfast?

Hi folks! Here is my July @leponline & @The_Gazette article, where I share my story of while growing up in Belfast, I had dreams of a life on the stage! #keepvarietyalive

Jimmy Cricket has revealed who his hero was while he dreamed as a child of a career on stage.

The popular Irish comedian gives the answer in his latest newspaper column.

He says: When I was growing up in Belfast in the fifties, there were lots of heroes to which you could hitch your wagon.

Elvis was turning pop music on its head, John Wayne was giving the baddies their comeuppance on the big silver screen and Lucile Ball was taking physical comedy to new heights with her television sitcom, I Love Lucy.

However, I didn’t have to go far to find my hero.

He was right there in the school I went to – St Patrick’s Secondary School on the Antrim Road.

His name was Tommy Kelly – or Tucker to his friends.

And why was I so besotted with him?

Because, Tommy Tucker Kelly, at the ripe old age of 12, was appearing in pantomime in the Grand Opera Theatre, Belfast.

The panto ran for six weeks.

It boasted lavish sets, dazzling costumers, a seven-piece orchestra in the pit and families came from all over Northern Ireland to see it.

This particular production of Cinderella, in 1957, starred Des O’Connor as Buttons.

Running gag

I saw it three times.

Tommy played the shorter of the two Brokers Men and every time they’d both come on stage, he’d say: I want to sing.”

And his tall, gangly partner would shout: “No!”

This became a running gag, with the audience becoming more and more vocal in their support for Tommy to be allowed to exercise his vocal chords.

Finally, in the second half, the big guy relents and Tommy regales the crowd with a wonderful animated version of He’s Got The Whole World, which brings the house down.

I couldn’t believe he was just another pupil just like me.

Because he wasn’t in my class, I was much too shy to approach him.

I’d gaze forlornly out of the classroom window as he’s be excused lessons and head out of the school gates on his way to do a matinee performance.

Tommy finished up appearing on the famous television pop show of the day – The Six Five Special.

Enormous talent

In 1998, when I went over to play Button in Cinderella at the Grand Opera House, I was curious to find out how Tommy was, and to invite him to the panto.

It turns out he’s become an astute businessman who was now the proud owner of three fish and chip shops.

We became friends and three years later I went back to play in Jack and The Beanstalk. at the same theatre.

I got his eight-year-old daughter Rachel up to sing one night in the finale – the reaction of the audience proved she’d inherited her dad’s enormous talent.

Like all good pantomimes, this has a happy ending because that little girl, Rachel Tucker, is now a star in West End musicals.

You could say she’s a chip off the old block.

Also read: Second visit of 2022 to Blackpool’s Lyndene nears!

Second visit of 2022 to Blackpool’s Lyndene nears! 150 150 mhamer

Second visit of 2022 to Blackpool’s Lyndene nears!

Jimmy Cricket has begun his seventh season at the Lyndene in Blackpool.

Jimmy Cricket’s second appearance of the year at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool is fast approaching…

The ever-green Northern Irish funnyman performs again at the seaside venue on Wednesday 3 August.

Jimmy started his seventh season at the Lyndene back in early July – read about his 2022 return here.

Been touring more this year, but it’s wonderful to be back at the Lyndene Hotel (the 1st Wednesday of every month, now till December 2022), here with Tom the compère/singer/musician and Colin on keyboards!

He appears at the popular promenade hotel on the first Wednesday of every month until the end of the year.

The hotel’s website says: “Located on Blackpool’s glorious seafront, the Lyndene Hotel is the No 1 choice for hotels with entertainment in Britain’s favourite holiday destination.

“Situated amongst family attractions, glittering show venues, great shopping and Blackpool’s jewel, the Blackpool Tower, our hotel is in the prime position for your holiday base.

“With sweeping views across the Irish Sea, with incomparable sunsets and people-watching, the Lyndene Hotel has all the amenities to make your stay perfect.”

Open 365 days a year

“Our entertainment keeps our guests returning to us again and again.

“We host up to four top cabaret and tributes acts each and every night of the year!”

The Lyndene appeared as Le Ponderosa in the second series of Peter Kay’s TV hit comedy Phoenix Nights.

See all Jimmy’s booked shows here.

Also read: ‘Jimmy set for a seventh season at the Lyndene

Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool

South Pacific: Manchester production was fabulous! 150 150 mhamer

South Pacific: Manchester production was fabulous!

What a fabulous production of the Classic Rogers and Hammerstein musical, South Pacific, playing @PalaceAndOpera Opera House on Quay Street, until Saturday 23rd July, myself, @mulgrew_may and @FatherFrankie and @KatieMulg enjoyed it, if you get a chance, do go along folks! #liveperformance 🎭

Jimmy Cricket took a break from his own shows to see the famous classic South  Pacific in Manchester.

The popular Northern Irish comedian watched the production at the Opera House.

Wife May, daughter Katie and son Fr Frankie, joined Jimmy for what was clearly a great night out.

“What a fabulous production of a Classic Rodgers and Hammerstein Musical playing @PalaceAndOpera Opera House on Quay Street,” Jimmy posted on social media.

“Myself, @mulgrew_may and @FatherFrankie and @KatieMulg enjoyed it.

“If you get a chance, do go along folks! #liveperformance 🎭.”

The promo says: “This powerful love story, set on a South Pacific island during World War ll, is brought thrillingly to life in an epic new five-star production.

“With a sensational cast of over 30 and a full orchestra, this ravishing musical is set to be the must-see theatrical event of the year.”

The show features songs such as Some Enchanted Evening, I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair and Bali Ha’i.

It has been adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Tales of the South Pacific by James A. Michener.

The production runs until Saturday 23 July.

You can book here for the show at Manchester Opera House.

Also read on this website: Lyndene Hotel: It’s wonderful to be back!

UK heatwave: Cool down with some of Jimmy’s jokes! 150 150 mhamer

UK heatwave: Cool down with some of Jimmy’s jokes!

We hope you’re all coping OK with the record-breaking heatwave that people in the UK and other parts of Europe are currently enduring.

The UK’s record temperature was broken on Tuesday afternoon when it reached 40.3C in Coningsby in Lincolnshire.

The figure surpassed the peak of 40.2C recorded at Heathrow earlier in the day.

Here is another selection of Jimmy Cricket’s jokes to hopefully help you through the long, hot days!

Popular comedian Jimmy keeps all his fans and followers laughing with quickfire jokes regularly posted on social media.

Funnyman Jimmy Cricket tells regular jokes online

Here are some of his latest one-liners for you to enjoy.

When I was growing up in Ireland, I’d only ever seen the Queen on a postage stamp. So, the very first time I met Her Majesty, I tried to lick the side of her face.

We don’t get the train service. I rang up the railway station. I said: “What time does the next train go to London?” He said: “Look it up online.” I mean, how dangerous is that?

So the barber says to me: “Would you like your hair cut round the back?” I said: “Is there no room in the shop?”

My new sat nav is amazing; yesterday I was passing a zoo and she said” “Bear left.”

The phone in the bedroom of my hotel went off at 7am this morning. The caller said: “Get up, and go out and tear down the nearest statue with anyone who has links to the slave trade.” It was a woke-up call!!

I’ll never forget when our local postman popped his clogs – we put an extra-large stamp on his coffin and gave him a good send off!

When you start to cook a fry-up, you’re never sure how it will pan out.

I don’t like my new boxer shorts… every time I put them in the washing machine, they keep fighting with my pyjamas.

Well, it’s local elections day… I wonder if I vote for Boris will he invite me to one of his parties!?

Remember folks, if you want to live the life of Riley, make sure Riley’s not looking when you pinch his credit card.

I told the doctor I wasn’t well and he told me to have a jump on a trampoline. I said “Will that help?” He said “Oh, you’ll soon bounce back!”

Read more of Jimmy’s jokes here!

Also, keep up to date with everything he’s doing and saying at https://twitter.com/jimmy__cricket

Stay safe in the hot weather, folks, and look after each other!