Jimmy Cricket

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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.”

Watch slideshow of latest walkabout 150 150 mhamer

Watch slideshow of latest walkabout
Jimmy Cricket plays the saxophone during his Ormskirk walkabout

Jimmy plays the saxophone during his walkabout around Ormskirk

Jimmy Cricket decided to drop in on the good folk of Ormskirk ahead of his appearance at the town’s Civic Hall next month.

The visit followed the famous Northern Irish entertainer’s successful walkabout in Stockport Town Centre.

This time around he was ably joined  by comedian Adam Ruston who is promoting Jimmy’s visit, along with Thea – Ormskirk Civic Hall manager – and Lauren, the bar manager at the venue.

During Jimmy’s whistle-stop tour of downtown Ormskirk, he popped into the Lime Tyger bar and Disraelis 1 pub, and did a meet-and-greet around the main pedestrian area.

He said: “I’m looking forward to the first of March when I will bring my ‘Audience with Jimmy Cricket’ show to the town with supporting host, the comedian Tony Vino.”

Click here for more details about Jimmy’s show.

Click the arrow button below to view a slideshow of photos of Jimmy’s walkabout around Ormskirk.


Warm welcome on a cold afternoon 150 150 mhamer

Warm welcome on a cold afternoon
Jimmy Cricket with Annette Logan

Jimmy with Annette during his walkabout in Stockport

Jimmy Cricket received a warm welcome on a cold January day when he went for a  walkabout in Stockport town centre a few weeks ago.

Jimmy Cricket with Martin Logan

Jimmy with Martin

The well-known entertainer thought it would be a good way of promoting his forthcoming visit to Stockport’s Plaza Theatre.

Armed with his much-loved saxophone, he decided he would join his friends, the busking outfit called the Lamplighters, and walk from the pub called The Swan With Two Necks in central Stockport.

They went along Mersey Square in front of the main entrance to the Merseyway Shopping Centre, and then on to the theatre itself.

jimmy_cricket_darrenDuring the journey Jimmy bumped into lots of different faces, who greeted him with not only great surprise, but full of warmth as well.

This was really welcomed by Jimmy as it was, after all, a cold January afternoon!

Among the many pleasant people he met during the walk included Martin and Annette Logan (photos above and right) and Darren Healey (left).

Jimmy pays tribute to panto team 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy pays tribute to panto team
The entire panto cast including Yvonne Patterson who took on the role of Wicked Queen and the dancers from the Stockton Heritage dance studio

The entire panto cast, including Yvonne Patterson who took on the role of Wicked Queen and the dancers from the Stockton Heritage dance studio

Jimmy Cricket with Malcolm Dixon, who played the head dwarf, and whose wife Anita was the production’s stage manager

Jimmy with Malcolm Dixon, who played the head dwarf, and whose wife Anita was the production’s stage manager

Famous funnyman Jimmy Cricket has been reflecting on the successful pantomime in which he starred over the festive season.

The Northern Irish entertainer played the comedy role of Muddles in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Billingham Forum Theatre near Middlesbrough.

Also in the cast was Emmerdale’s Kurtis Stacey (he plays Alex Moss in the soap) who featured in the role of the Wicked Henchman.

In total, a record 30,000 spectators came through the theatre’s doors to watch Jimmy and the cast over several weeks.

And it consistently had excellent reviews from people who see the show during the Christmas and New Year period.

Jimmy said: “I would like to pay tribute to the wonderful cast that had been assembled and express my gratitude to the excellent production team that put the show together led by producer Duggie Chapman.

Jimmy Cricket and Kurtis Stacey

Jimmy and Stacey

“I am also grateful to all the wonderful staff at the Forum Theatre under the watchful eye of manager Derek Cooper.”

He also acknowledges the fantastic cottage (scene photo below) he stayed at over the duration of the pantomime which was situated within Abbey Hill Cottages and is run by Paul, Smokey and Mary.

Jimmy liked the North East venue so much that he will bring his stand-up comedy show to the Forum Theatre on the afternoon of Sunday 6 April. To book tickets for Jimmy’s return visit with his comedy show, visit the theatre website here.

Jimmy Cricket stayed at a cottage in the countryside during the panto

Social club is ‘the place to be!’ 150 150 mhamer

Social club is ‘the place to be!’

Jimmy Cricket is returning to St Kentigern’s Irish Club in south ManchesterJimmy Cricket is returning next month to an Irish club which bills itself as “the place to be!”

The well-known entertainer has performed several times previously at St Kentigern’s Irish Social Club in Fallowfield, south Manchester.

And he is back there on Friday 7 February, with all the proceeds from the show being donated to the nearby Cornerstone Day Centre.

Jimmy has done several charity events at St Kentigern’s for this very worthy cause and the day centre is run by a magnificent and dedicated nun called Sr Lucy. It specialises in providing a helping hand to the homeless and dispossessed.

He said: “I have the utmost respect for the commitment and compassion Sr Lucy has for this day centre, so much so that I find it difficult to decline any requests for help from Sr Lucy with her fundraising for the centre!

“So if you are in the area on the seventh of February, come along and enjoy some craic [Gaelic word meaning ‘fun’] while raising money for a great cause.”

Festive Liz gets Wellie award 150 150 mhamer

Festive Liz gets Wellie award

Jimmy Cricket with marketing manager Liz CooperA lady who gave Jimmy Cricket and his panto colleagues a great Christmas send-off is the January winner of the Golden Wellie award.

Liz Cooper is the marking manager at the Forum Theatre in Billingham where the famous Northern Irish entertainer appeared in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs over the festive period.

Jimmy said: “Liz went above the call of duty on Christmas Eve and decorated with festive trimmings the dressings rooms occupied by the cast of the pantomime. She was ably abetted in this feat by her daughter.

“In 25 years of doing pantos across the UK, this is the first time that I have encountered the theatre’s staff going to the length of ensuring the cast have a Christmas send-off  and this special gesture certainly got everyone into the Christmas spirit.”

Jimmy, whose festively decorated panto dressing room is pictured below, was so impressed and grateful for what Liz had done that he wanted to acknowledge her efforts by awarding her the Golden Wellington (above).

Jimmy Cricket's panto dressing room