Cricket Times

Thoughts, updates and news from Jimmy Cricket

Emma Raducanu: Jimmy hails ‘fabulous win’ 150 150 mhamer

Emma Raducanu: Jimmy hails ‘fabulous win’

Wow what a fabulous win from Emma this evening! #staroftennisformanyyearstocome

Jimmy Cricket was among the millions of Britons to enjoy Emma Raducanu’s historic US Open victory.

Raducanu, 18, ended Britain’s 44-year wait for a women’s Grand Slam singles champion as she beat Leylah Fernandez to win the US Open.

She completed her fairytale in New York with a 6-4 6-3 win over her 19-year-old Canadian opponent in the final.

Jimmy reflected: “Wow what a fabulous win from Emma this evening! #staroftennisformanyyearstocome”

Raducanu had broken a host of records on the way to her startling success, becoming the:

  • First British female winner at Flushing Meadows since Virginia Wade in 1968 (Wade also won Wimbledon in 1977)
  • Youngest women’s Slam champion since Maria Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004
  • First woman to win the US Open without dropping a set since Serena Williams in 2014
  • First qualifier in the Open era to win a Slam
  • Youngest Briton to win a Grand Slam title

She also won £1.8m in prize money and rose to 23 in the world rankings.

In addition to all that, Raducanu became British tennis number one on Monday.

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev won his first Grand Slam title by shattering Novak Djokovic’s hopes of completing a calendar sweep of the majors in a one-sided men’s US Open final.

Second seed Medvedev, 25, had lost his two previous Grand Slam finals but remained composed throughout a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win.

World number one Djokovic had already won the Australian Open, French Open and Wimbledon titles this year.

Read all about Jimmy’s famous TV tennis sketch

Jam nights are about to return! 150 150 mhamer

Jam nights are about to return!
Pictures from one of Jimmy's jam nights in 2019

Pictures from one of Jimmy’s jam nights in 2019

Jimmy Cricket is about to bring back his popular charity jam nights following an enforced 18-month break.

Famous Northern Irish funnyman Jimmy and his wife May – a professional singer – have for more than a decade hosted a regular night of entertainment in their adopted home town of Rochdale.

It provides an opportunity for Jimmy and other performers to try out new (and relive some old) routines.

They began it on a monthly basis and in the past few years have alternated hosting the jam nights with their good friend and fellow entertainer Eric Devereaux.

It takes place in the lounge area of St Vincent’s RC parish centre in Norden.

They invite different guests who perform free of charge.

Jimmy Cricket's self-isolating message just before the start of the lockdown

There is a raffle and the selling of refreshments, with all proceeds donated to a chosen charity.

The popular comedian has nicknamed those who regularly support these evenings as ‘Jimmy’s Jammers’.

But the event was inevitably put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic.

‘Conveyor of good news’

But the good news is that the jam night is ready to return!

Jimmy, May and their friends messaged the regular audience members this week with the following message.

Hi Jammers,

I hope you’re all fit and well as we gradually come out of what has been an unprecedented time in all our lives.

I’m pleased to be the conveyor of good news. Father James has given us the go ahead to have a Charity Jam Night in the Parish Hall.

Both May and I have decided to make our first one back, a little more special, by having it on a Saturday night, 16th October 2021. As it will be my birthday, on the Sunday the 17th, it is also Maureen Barker’s alongside my fellow Comic Dusty Young on the Monday, so we can celebrate with a big cake for us all, (anyone else celebrating a birthday either side of this date, just let us know).

There will be the usual comedy, music, raffle, with teas, coffees, and biscuits, (cardboard cups for hot drinks will be supplied, but if anyone would rather bring their own cup from home, please feel free).

Ever present dependable Kath and Pauline will be on hand to help, and our designated Charity for the evening will be for Mary’s Meals, (which has just celebrated reaching the 2 million mark of feeding children whilst in education, in 19 different countries around the world).

We look forward to seeing you all there on the evening, as we also come together to remember and celebrate the lives of those whom we have lost from our group over the last 18 months.

Sending our Love and Best Wishes to you all xx

Jimmy & May & Eric & Gloria & Kath & Pauline

Also read: Message of hope: After the storm comes the rainbow

Rochdale jam night is ‘lovely charity evening’

Coronavirus pandemic: We can do this together!

 

 

Mary’s Meals: Charity marks memorable milestone 150 150 mhamer

Mary’s Meals: Charity marks memorable milestone

My thanks to #FrFrankieMulgrew and all the Team Members here at headquarters for the invite to Mary's Meals here in the great City of Glasgow for the celebrations of reaching the monumental figure of now providing meals for over 2million children in over 19 countries around the world! #pleasehelpifyoucanJimmy Cricket helped charity Mary’s Meals celebrate passing the great milestone of providing food for two million children.

The famous comedian was in Glasgow earlier this week for the special event.

Mary’s Meals supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Jimmy’s comedian-turned-priest son, Fr Frankie Mulgrew, is a long-standing supporter of Mary’s Meals.

Jimmy said on social media: “My thanks to #FrFrankieMulgrew and all the Team Members here at headquarters for the invite to #MarysMeals here in the great City of Glasgow…

“… for the celebrations of reaching the monumental figure of now providing meals for over 2million children in over 19 countries around the world! #pleasehelpifyoucan”

Fr Frankie has previously written two books, with the proceeds from both going to Mary’s Meals.

He compiled and edited Does God LOL? (LOL is internet slang for Laugh Out Loud), published in 2013.

Sir Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson, Tim Vine and the late Frank Carson were among the famous showbiz names to contribute to the book.

God’s love and power

Fr Frankie also compiled and edited Miracles R Us: Supernatural Miracles In The Catholic Church.

A summary of the book, published three years ago, asks: “Do miracles really happen? Are there miracles in the 21st century just as there were during the life of Jesus?

“This book proves that God’s love and power to traFr Frankie Mulgrew leaves church after saying his first Mass as a Catholic priestnsform hearts and lives is as real today as it was in the time of Jesus.”

It includes a contribution from Cardinal Vincent Nichols.

Fr Frankie (right) was a professional comedian like his dad before being ordained in 2013.

The Salford-based Roman Catholic priest had the stage name of Frankie Doodle as an entertainer.

Also read: Packed show is a family affair for Mary’s Meals fundraiser

 

Blackpool show at the centre of a busy week 150 150 mhamer

Blackpool show at the centre of a busy week

 

Comedy royalty: Ready for my second spot at the #LyndeneHotel this evening! #liveentertainment

Jimmy Cricket has been enjoying a busy week.

The famous Northern Irish comedian performed at a private event on Sunday afternoon and was doing a show at a birthday party in Bradford on Friday night.

And in the middle a busy six days, the popular entertainer was back at his favourite Blackpool hotel.

Jimmy posted the photographs above on social media on Wednesday evening from the Lyndene Hotel.

He said: “Ready for my second spot at the #LyndeneHotel this evening! #liveentertainment.”

His latest show there sparked a host of positive comments on Facebook.

A few of them are below.

Rob Dutch comedy royalty

Phil Walker 2 spots! It’s like the old club days Jimmy 😅 what a trooper!

Kevin Devane Excellent stuff

Josh Daniels Legend

Alfie Joey Quality is permanent

Jimmy is appearing at the Lyndene monthly until the end of the year.

He was back performing there in mid-July for the first time in 2021.
Like all other entertainment venues, shows had been postponed due to the national restrictions imposed because of coronavirus.

Pandemic apart, Jimmy has appeared regularly on the popular Lyndene’s two stages for several years.

He had done his last show there in September 2020 before another lockdown resulted in the closure of hospitality venues.

See all Jimmy’s booked shows (note that this schedule is updated regularly)

 

TV tennis sketch – to whom did those umpire legs belong?! 150 150 mhamer

TV tennis sketch – to whom did those umpire legs belong?!

Hi folks! with the US Open a week away, here is a fun sketch, (will be featuring many on the front page of my website in the coming weeks), meanwhile who do these umpire legs belong to?Jimmy Cricket chose a topical time to post his popular TV tennis sketch on social media.

The US Open starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows in New York and lasts two weeks.

It is usually tennis’s final Grand Slam tournament of the year, the others being the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon.

The tennis sketch is from Jimmy’s popular TV show called And There’s More.

It went out on ITV prime-time on Saturday nights and ran for three years between 1985 and 1988.

The show was a mixture of stand-up routines and sketches.

He said earlier this week: “Hi folks! With the US Open a week away, here is a fun sketch, (will be featuring many on the front page of my website in the coming weeks).

“Meanwhile, who do these umpire legs belong to?” Thinking face

Jimmy subsequently shared the answer to his question.

He revealed: “Hi folks, the umpire legs belonged to the great scriptwriter Eddie Braben.

“The great man himself kindly lent us his knees for the sketch and was always fantastic fun to work with, as we went through the scripts he had written!

“You can spot him many times doing cameos throughout the series of And There’s More.”

Eddie, who died aged 82 in 2013, was a legendary comedy writer.

As well as Jimmy, he provided material for Morecambe and Wise.

Eddie was credited with changing the profile of the famous duo.

He helped to turn them into one of the most popular and enduring comedy acts in the history of British entertainment.

Jimmy started working with Eddie on his TV show, And There’s More, and then his radio show, Jimmy’s Cricket Show.

Watch the tennis sketch here

Eddie Braben exhibition is ‘a tribute to a genius’

 

Global warming & Fox’s Glacier Mints – more Jimmy jokes 150 150 mhamer

Global warming & Fox’s Glacier Mints – more Jimmy jokes

Funnyman Jimmy Cricket tells regular jokes onlineGlobal warming is one of the subjects tackled humorously by comic Jimmy Cricket in his latest series of one-liners.

The ever-green entertainer regularly posts jokes on social media to amuse all his fans and friends.

Here is another selection of Jimmy’s latest gags.

Wow! A slice of Charles’ and Diana’s wedding cake sold for £1,850. That’s amazing… I wonder do you get a cup of tea with it?

I’m thinking of entering my Uncle Patrick in the next Olympic Games in Paris… Whenever he bangs his thumb, there’s nobody throws a hammer further than he does.

That was amazing to see 13-year-old Sky Brown win a medal at the Tokyo Olympics… Next thing you know they’ll be having a baby event to see who can throw their nappy the farthest!

When I found out we had more opticians in the UK than anywhere else in Europe, it was a real eye opener.

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has just headed off in a rocket into outer space… It’s a long way to go to deliver a package!

I’ve just seen a very unusual football match in the park. Wait for this, two teams of traffic wardens… It was all square after extra time so it went to fixed penalties.

Our postman fell today… he took a bit of a knock.

Ever since they closed the salt factory we’ve all been feeling the pinch.

I still think Humpty Dumpty was a good stand-up comedian even though he was a bit off the wall.

I’ve just sent off for a new hearing aid and now I’m waiting to hear back.

This global warming is getting serious… I’ve just bought a packet of Fox’s Glacier Mints in the shop and when I got them home, they were melted!

See more of funnyman Jimmy’s jokes and keep up to date with everything he’s doing at https://twitter.com/jimmy__cricket

Also read – From the archives: Jimmy the Butlin’s camp comic!

Francis House: Fund-raising show lined up for October 150 150 mhamer

Francis House: Fund-raising show lined up for October

Jimmy Cricket is doing a fund-raising show for Francis House in ChorleyJimmy Cricket is doing another show for his favourite charity in October.

The famous funnyman will be headlining a performance of music and laughter at Fox Lane Sports Club in Leyland, Lancashire.

The show will raise funds for Francis House Children’s Hospice in south Manchester.

Jimmy posted on social media: “My thanks to @eventphotos67 for arranging this show.

“We are looking forward to raising much-needed funds for @FrancisHouseCH via this charity show this coming October.

“Why not come along folks if you live local #liveperformance.”

The show, which is on Friday 8 October, will also feature Jimmy’s wife, who sings by the name of May Marion, and his good friend Jim Nicholas, also an entertainer and long-time supporter of the hospice.

Book tickets here

All-round entertainer Jimmy has raised around half-a-million pounds for Francis House over the years.
That is thanks to countless touring shows and parish hall events across almost two decades.
Based at Didsbury, Francis House cares for children and young adults with life-threatening conditions.
It provides a home from home where families can receive professional care, support and friendship.

The seven-bedroom building at Francis House opened in November 1991, with Diana, Princess of Wales, officially doing the honours.

It was only the fifth children’s hospice built in the UK and the world.

Read a timeline of the history of the hospice here

Also see: Francis House benefits from Rochdale ‘jam’ night