Cricket Times

Thoughts, updates and news from Jimmy Cricket

Wall of fame features Jimmy & others 150 150 mhamer

Wall of fame features Jimmy & others

Wall of fame includes Ken Dodd and Jimmy CricketA wall of fame photograph put on Facebook includes legendary entertainers such as Ken Dodd, Victoria Wood, Jimmy Cricket and George Formby.

The star-studded montage (right) of famous faces and celebrity autographs has been assembled over the years by Amy Phillips.

Jimmy said : “Amy is clearly a keen collector of autographs and the ones she has accumulated are proudly presented in a mounted display on the wall of one of her rooms.”

Alongside Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy on the wall of fame is actor, Peter Sallis who played Norman Clegg in Last of the Summer Wine, English comedian, actress, singer-songwriter, screenwriter and director Victoria Wood, British comedian, actor and television presenter Joe Pasquale and George Formby, OBE, who was a British actor, singer-songwriter and comedian.

George Formby was a major star of stage and screen in the 1930s and ’40s and his songs such as When I’m Cleaning Windows were particularly popular during the Second World War (1939–45).

Jimmy added: “Amy posted this picture on her Facebook page and I  am thrilled to keep such celebrated company on her wall!”

Here’s to the next 30 years! 150 150 mhamer

Here’s to the next 30 years!
Jimmy Cricket with Darren and Neil from the Morton Arms, Towyn, North Wales

Jimmy with Darren and Neil at the Morton Arms, Towyn, North Wales

A North Wales pub where Jimmy Cricket has enjoyed performing over the years is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2014.

The above photograph, which was published on Facebook, was taken in 2001 and features Jimmy alongside Darren Howells and Neil from the Morton Arms, Towyn  in North Wales.

Famous funnyman Jimmy was appearing at this venue at the time the photo was taken and this year the venue celebrates 30 years since it was opened.

He last appeared at the Morton Arms a couple of years ago and that latest visit was again organised by local entertainment entrepreneur Darren Howells.

In fact, every time Jimmy has appeared at the Morton Arms he has had a tremendous reception from the locals based in the Abergele region.

Jimmy said: “I wish everyone at the pub a happy 30th anniversary and another 30 years of success. I also hope to bump into my old friend Darren Howells at some point in the near future.”

Golden award for ‘inspirational young man’ 150 150 mhamer

Golden award for ‘inspirational young man’
Jimmy Cricket with Golden Wellie award winner Sonny

Jimmy presents “courageous” Sonny with the Golden Wellie award for February

A young man whose “courage and tenacity” impressed entertainer Jimmy Cricket is the February winner of the Golden Wellie award.

Jimmy met Sonny who accompanied reporter Graham Ashworth when he was interviewing the Northern Irish comedian just before Christmas for the Local Journal in Rossendale.

Sonny was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2012 and had a bone marrow transplant 12 months ago which was kindly donated by his brother, Spencer. Sonny is currently in remission and undergoing radiation treatment.

Jimmy said: “I was only told of sonny’s circumstances at the end of Graham’s interview with me. On hearing the news, I could not believe what I was being told because of Sonny’s great attitude and friendly demeanour.

“I was particularly impressed with Sonny’s courage and tenacity. I also learnt that Sonny was planning to revisit the cancer ward at Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital over the forthcoming Christmas period with gifts for the children there and to show them that as he is recovering so can they.”

After meeting this “inspirational young man”, Jimmy thought he would acknowledge the occasion in his own very personal way by presenting him with the Golden Wellie award.

The Nobodies, stolen wellies & keeping busy 150 150 mhamer

The Nobodies, stolen wellies & keeping busy

Jimmy Cricket article in the Local Journal in RossendaleJimmy Cricket has been telling a magazine about how he met his wife May and why he still hopes his concrete wellies will one day be returned to him.

The famous entertainer is featured in the February edition of the  Local Journal in Rossendale – his house falls just metres inside the Rossendale border.

He moved there a couple of years ago  from his previous home in Rochdale which was less than a mile from where he now lives.

The article (above), written by Graham Ashworth, is headlined ‘Jimmy cricket is still bowling them over!’ and describes him as one of the country’s best-known comedians.

It says he was the last person to be interviewed by Eamonn Andrews on the famous This
is your life programme and that it was at Pontins holiday camp in Morecambe where he met his wife May who was singing with a resident group called ‘The Nobodies’.

And Jimmy, who says he has no plans to hang up his wellies any time soon, has not given up hope that his concrete boots, which were stolen from his garden last summer, may yet turn up again eventually.

Visit to new restaurant is great ‘Tweet’! 150 150 mhamer

Visit to new restaurant is great ‘Tweet’!

 

Jimmy Cricket and wife May with Stu Francis

Jimmy and his wife May with Stu Francis at the opening of the EastzEast restaurant

Jimmy Cricket posted a recommendation on Twitter after attending the launch of a new Indian restaurant.

The famous entertainer was invited to EastzEast in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, by his good friend, the entertainment promoter Micky Martin (pictured with Jimmy below).

Jimmy Cricket with Micky Martin and a member of the restaurant staff

Also at the opening was fellow comedian Stu Francis, another of Jimmy’s friends.

Jimmy said: “I was highly impressed with EastzEast. I loved the friendly staff and was very impressed with the food on offer.

“In fact, I enjoyed the experience so much that I took to the social media network the next morning and posted a recommendation on Twitter!”

*  A big thanks to Bill Cowpland (pictured with Jimmy below) for the above photographs

Jimmy Cricket with Bill Cowpland

The summer of ’88… 150 150 mhamer

The summer of ’88…

Jimmy Cricket featured with the Krankies and Renato at the Royal Opera House in ScarboroughJimmy Cricket was taken back 26 years recently courtesy of a picture posted on Facebook.

Paul Burton published a flier (right) on the summer season of 1988 when famous entertainer Jimmy performed at the Royal Opera House in Scarborough.

The show also featured Scottish comedy duo The Krankies and the singer Renato (who sang the hit song Save Your Love with Renee).

Jimmy said: “I fondly remember the season and the huge success the show had; for several weeks over that summer, it played to packed houses over two performances a night for six days a week.

“It was so successful the producer Nick Thomas – who went on to found the Qdos Entertainment empire – extended the show’s season to accommodate the demand!

“The sad side to this story is the fact that the Opera House was a beautiful, traditional, Victorian auditorium located near to the centre of Scarborough town centre.

“Unfortunately it was deemed surplus to requirements a few years after my season and was demolished as a result.

“It has now been adopted as a case study when older traditional auditoriums are placed at risk within their town and communities.”

Comics join forces for family show 150 150 mhamer

Comics join forces for family show

The South Shields Gazette article on the Jimmy and Alfie Show Jimmy Cricket is teaming  up with fellow comedian Alfie Joey for a performance in South Shields this spring.

Northern Irish entertainment legend Jimmy and BBC Radio Newcastle breakfast presenter Alfie pair will feature in the aptly named ‘Jimmy and Alfie’ show at the Customs House Theatre on Saturday 10 May.

The South Shields Gazette recently published a newspaper article (right) about the gig, entitled “And there’s more for the whole family”.

Jimmy said: “A big thanks to senior reporter Vicki Newman for this great write-up.”

The newspaper’s website also has a story about the show in which Alfie  – who can also seen in BBC Two sitcom, Hebburn – says: “Jimmy and myself became pals in quite an unusual way.

“I had trained to become a priest and left to become a comedian, and his son, the comedian Frankie Doodle, was a comedian and gave it up to become a priest. He’s Fr Frank Mulgrew now.

“People said we’d been through the same thing, just in the opposite direction, and we got talking, and I realised who his dad was.

“I ended up being invited to Jimmy’s 60th birthday party and became a family friend, and we’ve done a few gigs before, but this will be the first one that’s just me and him.”