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The Great British Seaside Special 150 150 mhamer

The Great British Seaside Special

Jimmy Cricket’s summer season in the idyllic Norfolk seaside resort of Hunstanton gets under way on Monday (5 August).

The show is called the Great British Seaside Special and takes place at the Princess Theatre in the coastal town.

Jimmy Cricket is starring in The Great British Seaside Special

It will be on every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, from the first week of August through to 4 September. There is a mix of 7.30pm performances and 2.30pm matinee shows.

Jimmy said: “I’m really excited as the Princess Theatre is currently going through a major revival in its fortunes.”

It will also feature the multi-instrumentalist Ian Larkham, the balloon-modelling skills of Bob Wooding and the Seaside Special company of talented singers and dancers. The show will be directed and choreographed by Ian’s wife, Michelle.

The show is produced by theatre manager Brian Hallard, who was instrumental in the reopening of the theatre last year.

Tickets are priced between £11.50 to £13.50, with children able to grab a seat for £7.50 and senior citizens from £11.50 to £12.50. Visit the theatre’s online box office here or  telephone on 01485 532252.

Special thanks at Fr Frankie’s first Mass 150 150 mhamer

Special thanks at Fr Frankie’s first Mass

Fr Frankie hugs his dad Jimmy Cricket after dedicating his book, Does God LOL?, to himFather Frankie Mulgrew had a special present for his dad Jimmy Cricket, the famous entertainer, when he celebrated his first Mass as a Roman Catholic priest.

Fr Frankie Mulgrew celebrates his first Mass

Having been ordained at Salford Cathedral the previous day, Fr Frankie said his first Mass at St Vincent’s RC Church in Norden, Rochdale, where has been based for several years.

During the Mass, Fr Frankie – hugging his dad and thanking him for all he has done for him (picture above) – presented him with a special gift as a token of his gratitude… a copy of the book entitled Does God LOL?

Liz Dawn (who played Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street) talks to Frankie's friend Liz Creagh after the service. Liz was at both the ordination and the First Mass and Frankie was really thrilled she came to both eventsFrankie has compiled the book, which develops a theme around whether God has a sense of humour with the help of well-known contributors including Tim Vine, Ricky Tomlinson and Jo Brand.

He dedicated it to his father who said he had no idea this was going to happen.

Among the hundreds of people who attended the packed service at St Vincent’s was Liz Dawn, Lord David Alton, who has been a great guiding light for Frankie Mulgrew, reads the first reading at the Masswho played Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street.

Above, she is pictured talking to another of Frankie’s friends, Liz Creagh, after the service.

Liz Dawn was at both the ordination and the first Mass, and Frankie said he was really thrilled she had attended both events.

Lord David AltonFr Frankie Mulgrew leaves church after saying his first Mass as a Catholic priest, who has been a great guiding light for Frankie, read the first reading at the Mass (above).

A buffet was held after Fr Frankie’s first Mass at St Vincent’s Parish Centre, which is just yards from the church.

The ordination service, on Saturday 13 July, was presided over by the Rt Rev Bishop Terence Brain – Bishop of Salford – and in the presence of the Rt Rev Mark Davis, Bishop of Shrewsbury.

It was a joint ordination as Frankie’s friend, Nathan Horne, was also ordained to the priesthood and so the cathedral was packed with nearly 800 people in attendance.

* All photos courtesy of Graham Sivills from Norden Studio

View more photos from this special occasion here

Fr Frankie Mulgrew celebrates his first Mass

Father Frankie makes mum & dad very proud 150 150 mhamer

Father Frankie makes mum & dad very proud
Jimmy Cricket and his wife, May, were invited to robe their son, Frankie, for his ministry as a priest in the Catholic Church

Jimmy Cricket and his wife, May, were invited to robe their son, Frankie, for his ministry as a priest in the Catholic Church

Jimmy Cricket had a very proud paternal moment when his second son, Frankie, was ordained a Catholic priest in an ordination service at Salford Cathedral.

The service on the afternoon of Saturday 13 July was presided over by the Rt Rev Bishop Terence Brain – Bishop of Salford – and in the presence of the Rt Rev Mark Davis, Bishop of Shrewsbury.

It was a joint ordination as Frankie’s friend, Nathan Horne, was also ordained to the priesthood and so the cathedral was packed with nearly 800 people in attendance.

Frankie's sisters, Jamie and Katie, sang a reflection during the ordination service

Frankie’s sisters, Jamie and Katie, sang a reflection during the ordination

The service was a very memorable one for many reasons, including the fact that the music and singing were provided by both a cathedral choir and a brass band.

Jimmy and his wife, May, helped to robe their younger son for his ministry as a priest.

And their two daughters, Jamie and Katie, sang a reflection during the service.

View more photos from this special occasion here

Apart from family and friends, there were guests present from the world of entertainment: the actress Suranne Jones (ex-Coronation Street) read the first reading and the singer Dana, who won the Eurovision Song Contest in 1970 – sang the Psalm.

Also present was Don Maclean, Liz Dawn (who played Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street), Tim Vine, Lord David Alton, Mick Ferry, Alfie Joey, actor Malcolm Dixon and Stu Francis.

* All photos courtesy of Graham Sivills from Norden Studio

Fr Frankie at the end of the service as a member of the clergy

Fr Frankie at the end of the service as a member of the clergy

Comedy duo hit it off first time 150 150 mhamer

Comedy duo hit it off first time
Dublin comedian Sil Fox at the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival

Entertainer Jimmy Cricket with Dublin comedian Sil Fox at the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Kilkenny

Famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket is hoping that his first show with a Dublin comedian earlier this year will not be the last time they perform together.

The Belfast-born funnyman had a thoroughly enjoyable trip back in June to the Cat Laughs Comedy Festival in Kilkenny.

Also on his show was Sil Fox who sent the photo above and said he really enjoyed meeting Jimmy – amazingly they had never bumped into each other previously.

Jimmy was also thrilled to work with Sil and hopes the duo may be able to repeat their successful comedy combination at some point in the future.

The Cat Laughs Comedy Festival was held for the first time in 1995 in response to the burgeoning wealth of Irish comic talent with no clear national outlet for expression.

It has grown from a small event comprising a handful of shows to an internationally acclaimed festival which showcases the very best in Irish and international comedy acts, attracting visitors to Kilkenny city and its surrounding regions.

* Coming later this week on Jimmy Cricket’s website… (Father) Frankie’s special day – including a picture special

Working with a theatre stalwart 150 150 mhamer

Working with a theatre stalwart

Jimmy Cricket is getting help from a theatre stalwart as preparations are stepped up for his new musical in the autumn.

Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn on Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 October.

Jimmy Cricket with Eric Nolan at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn

Jimmy Cricket with Eric Nolan at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn

And a vital member of Jimmy’s team is Eric Nolan who runs the Blackburn Drama Club and produces four plays a year at the theatre.

He also presents plays at the Library Theatre in Darwen and last year produced one on the Indian icon, Ghandi.

Well-known entertainer Jimmy said: “Eric is a great advocate for the Thwaites Empire Theatre and helps raise loads of funds to keep the theatre going.

“I am looking forward to working with Eric on my show.”

* The booking office is open from 10am-12.30pm, Monday to Saturday, on 01254 685500.

Meeting an old familiar friendly face 150 150 mhamer

Meeting an old familiar friendly face
Jimmy Cricket with the professional photographer Tim Badley

Jimmy Cricket with professional photographer Tim Bradley at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn

Jimmy Cricket came across a familiar figure at the launch of his new musical.

The Rochdale-based famous Irish entertainer was at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn where Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged on Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 October.

And he bumped into freelance photographer Tim Bradley, whom Jimmy has met many times previously.

He said: “Tim is such a warm and amiable guy, whom I first met when he worked as a photographer at the Rochdale Observer – my local paper.

“I get asked to appear at a lot of local events in Rochdale and this is when I used to bump into Tim.

“He has now gone freelance and does a lot of work for the Lancashire Evening Telegraph, so when I recently launched my new musical show at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn, it was Tim who turned up on behalf of the paper to take some photographs.”

Tim took the photos which featured in the previous Cricket Times story about Maloney’s Big Moment.

Jimmy added: “I hope it won’t be too long before our paths collide again!”

What’s the story in Costa de Looney? 150 150 mhamer

What’s the story in Costa de Looney?

Have you got your tickets yet for Jimmy Cricket’s new musical later this year?

Maloney’s Big Moment is being staged at the Thwaites Empire Theatre in Blackburn on Friday and Saturday, 11 and 12 October.

Jimmy Cricket's new musical is called Maloney's Big Moment

Jimmy’s new musical is called Maloney’s Big Moment

And tickets are on sale now after the show was officially launched on 1 July.

Famous entertainer Jimmy got the idea for the play after reading a newspaper story about a Spanish coastal town electing an English ex-pat as its mayor.

He thought it was a really fascinating scenario, especially as the elected candidate did not have a particular good grasp of Spanish!

This original piece of theatre was first written as a radio play and recorded for a Catholic radio station earlier this year.

And it got its first public showing in front of a live audience at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale in April.

Jimmy was keen to convert it into his favourite genre – musical theatre – so he has kept a lot of the dialogue and added to the piece a number of songs. It is based in the fictional town of Costa de Looney.

The proceeds from the musical will go towards the theatre’s roof appeal.

It is a cause near to Jimmy’s heart – he is a very vociferous supporter of live theatre and keeping theatres open.

* The booking office is open from 10am-12.30pm, Monday to Saturday, on 01254 685500.