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Skegness reunion for Jimmy, Theo & Wendy 150 150 mhamer

Skegness reunion for Jimmy, Theo & Wendy

Jimmy with Theo the Mouse and Wendy

Jimmy Cricket met up again with TV characters Wendy Abrahams and Theo The Mouse when they all featured in a summer season spectacle at the beginning of August at the Embassy Theatre in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

The show was part of a series of summer performances at the theatre, which also featured Anita Harris, Stu Francis and The Bachelors (see poster below).

Sunday night Startime at the Embassy Theatre in Skegness starred Jimmy Cricket, Anita Harris, The Bachelors, Theo The Mouse and Wendy

The Embassy Theatre line-up was produced by the theatre impresario Mark Andrews.

Although well-known entertainer Jimmy only headlined the first production, all three evenings featured Wendy, who features in CITV’s Sooty Show, and Theo The Mouse, a children’s character created by Wink Taylor. 

Wendy’s partner, Wink, helps out with Theo The Mouse and is also heavily involved with the latest television version of Sooty, which is broadcast on weekend mornings on ITV1.

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy also met Theo and Wendy when he appeared at St David’s Hall in Cardiff, South Wales, towards the backend of last year.

The Facebook page for Theo The Mouse can be found here.

Suarez song goes global 150 150 mhamer

Suarez song goes global

I was bit by Luis Suarez is a song by Jimmy Cricket

Jimmy Cricket’s new song, I was bit by Luis Suarez, has gone worldwide since its release over all digital outlets a week ago.

In addition to being available at  iTunes, Amazon and Tesco, it has even been spotted on a Taiwanese online music store!

Jimmy Cricket's I was bit by Luis Suarez

And media coverage of the song,  which is based on the Uruguay and former Liverpool striker who was banned for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup in Brazil this summer, has been far and wide too.

As well as being featured in the Daily Mirror and in its sister publication, the Irish Mirror, Jimmy’s tune has made it to Africa and to the United States of America.

For anyone interested in an actual CD copy of the song, it can be purchased for £2.50 by ringing the record label Rolling Tear who are the distributors. They can be contacted on 07931 528435.

And there’s more – the B side for the single is a karaoke singalong version of the song!

Jimmy said he was thrilled about the response so far, adding: “I have just been blown away with the interest that has been generated by this comedy song.

“I thought it was such a huge topic during this year’s Brazil World Cup that I just had to have a go at writing a funny take on the story. I am thrilled it has created a bit of a stir and the global attention is something I did not really expect at all!”

To watch the video of the song, visit Jimmy’s video channel at YouTube here.

And you can pre-order  I was bit by Luis Suarez at iTunes.

For all the latest updates on the song from Jimmy, go to his Twitter page.

Helping out at post office relaunch 150 150 mhamer

Helping out at post office relaunch

Jimmy Cricket with Michael Meacher (right) and others at the relaunch of Royton Post Office

Jimmy Cricket was only too pleased to help out an old friend at the reopening of a post office in Greater Manchester earlier this summer.

The famous Northern Ireland entertainer was invited to the special event in Oldham by Paul Couglan, who is the new franchise owner of the revamped Royton Post Office.

Paul, an acquaintance of Jimmy, already runs a successful post office at nearby Moston in north Manchester.

Also present at the relaunch was Michael Meacher, a British Labour politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Oldham West and Royton since 1997.

Jimmy said: ” I was thrilled to be able to support Paul at the start of his new venture. He has always tried to support me over the years with his new musicals and shows.

“I wish Paul all the best with Royton Post Office and hope it’s a major success.”

The event was featured in the 18 June edition of the Oldham Evening Chronicle (see image above).

I was bit by Luis Suarez – see video trailer 150 150 mhamer

I was bit by Luis Suarez – see video trailer

The Spenborough Guardian front page previewing the article on Jimmy Cricket

The most controversial incident at this summer’s 2014 World Cup in Brazil is the subject of Jimmy Cricket’s latest comedy song.

I was bit by Luis Suarez is based on the Uruguayan and former Liverpool striker who was banned for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the group match between the two national sides in June.

Jimmy Cricket's song is about Uruguay footballer Luis Suarez

Jimmy’s song is about Uruguay footballer Luis Suarez

Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy said: “It inspired me to write one of my unique and colourful comedy songs about Luis Suarez and his habit of using this unusual tactic on the field of play.”

The idea of the song was picked up by a specialist comedy record label that has just been created called Rolling Tear. The company is based near Dewsbury in West Yorkshire.

Rolling Tear arranged for Jimmy’s track to be recorded and also organised for an accompanying music video to be filmed.

During the filming, which took place at the Hartshead Social Club in Liversedge, Kirklees, the local newspaper sent a photographer to gatecrash the video shoot.

The Spenborough Guardian then featured Jimmy’s filming day in one of their editions.

The article on Jimmy Cricket's song about Luis Suarez appeared in the Spenborough GuardianThe article, published earlier this month, said: “The video follows the comic who, back from a holiday in Uruguay, regales Rob the landlord with a tale of how he got on the wrong-side of the hot-headed Barcelona star [Suarez joined Barcelona from Liverpool this summer].

“The comic said: ‘It is a tale of espionage in South America!

“‘I have a friend who runs Loom Studio in Birstall, Leeds– they were telling me they wanted me to do a comedy song.

“‘I had been watching the biting incident at the World Cup, so I decided to make one about that.’

“The song’s chorus goes: ‘I was bit by Luis Suarez/And it wasn’t just a peck/When I was bit by Luis Suarez/I got it in the neck.’

“The video features terrace-style chanting and some pub regulars waving maracas.”

The song with video is officially released on Tuesday 26 August and will be available from all major digital outlets.

For a sneak preview, visit Jimmy’s video channel at YouTube here.

And you can pre-order the song at iTunes here.

For all the latest updates on the song from Jimmy, go to his Twitter page.

Thanks to photographer Jake O for the photos which appeared in the Spenborough Guardian.

Another Redcoats reunion for Jimmy 150 150 mhamer

Another Redcoats reunion for Jimmy

Jimmy with some other former Butlins Redcoats

Jimmy Cricket had his latest Butlins Redcoat reunion when he was appearing at a Pontins holiday village earlier this summer.

Jimmy Cricket with Paul Ogden, another former Butlins Redcoat

The well-known comedian worked as a Redcoat at the Butlins sites in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, and Mosney near Dublin in Ireland during the late 1960s before becoming a household name on television.

He has met up with some of his old colleagues during the decades since then and this was actually the second time he had encountered this particular group of fellow former Redcoats – he also bumped into them the last time he was at Sand Bay Holiday Park in Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, a couple of years ago!

The photos are courtesy of Paul Ogden, with whom Jimmy can be seen right.

Above, Jimmy has actually managed to borrow a red coat from one of the group and is pictured alongside them all sharing some comedy banter.

* Redcoat is the name given to front-line staff at Butlins holiday camps in the UK. A Redcoat has duties ranging from adult entertainer or children’s entertainer to stewarding. Read more about them here.

Ode to the stolen wellingtons 150 150 mhamer

Ode to the stolen wellingtons
Ken Dodd signed the new concrete wellies for fellow comedian Jimmy Cricket

Ken Dodd has signed the new wellingtons for fellow comedian Jimmy

The story of Jimmy Cricket’s stolen concrete wellingtons – and their replacements – has again been the subject of attention in the media.

The Rochdale Observer, the newspaper in the famous entertainer’s hometown, is the latest publication to feature an article on the saga.

Ken Dodd signed the new concrete wellies for fellow comedian Jimmy Cricket

The first set of wellies were taken from Jimmy’s garden last April, a theft which left him “devastated” and caused quite a stir in the national press.

His friend and fellow funnyman Ken Dodd has bought another pair, having given Jimmy the original ones for his 50th birthday.

Jimmy is famous for wearing green wellington boots, marked with the letters R and L on the wrong feet, during his acts.

Ken recently appeared at The Spa Bridlington, where he signed the new wellies, and they will be presented to Jimmy when he performs at the same venue on Sunday, 24 August.

The Observer reports that the replacements were bought on eBay, the online auction website, for £22 and that Jimmy has written a poem about the whole episode.

Book tickets for Jimmy’s show in Bridlington here.

The Rochdale Observer article on the stolen wellies

‘Thrilled’ to help a special group of people 150 150 mhamer

‘Thrilled’ to help a special group of people

Jimmy Cricket with two local carers, the acting chief executive of Rochdale council – Linda Fisher - and councillor Billy Shearin

Jimmy Cricket popped in to see a special group of people in the town where he has lived for more than 40 years.

The famous entertainer was invited to an event during Carers week 2014 at the new council office block called Number One Riverside in Rochdale.

Jimmy was asked to attend by his good friend Pauline Fardon, who, along with her husband, are carers and both participate in the local carers choir.

“It was an enjoyable experience. I was thrilled to lend a hand in continuing to maintain an awareness of the wonderful work that this group of individuals do for their loved ones,” said Jimmy.

Pictured with Jimmy are two local carers, the acting chief executive of Rochdale council – Linda Fisher – and councillor Billy Shearin, who was present as the assistant portfolio holder for adult social care.