Jimmy Cricket

The online home of comedian & entertainer
Journey into the archives 150 150 mhamer

Journey into the archives
Jimmy Cricket performs in the 1985 Royal Variety Performance show

Jimmy Cricket in 1985

Got any old videos or photos of your favourite entertainer?

If you have still pictures or moving footage from down the years of famous Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket – like the Royal Variety Performance clip on the homepage of this website – then we would love to hear from you.

This video from 1985 was sent in by one of Jimmy’s fans and if anybody out there wants to send anything from the archives, then it will also be put online.

The Royal Variety Performance – also known as the Royal Command Performance – is a gala evening held annually in the UK and attended by senior members of the Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch.

Performances showcase a variety of family entertainment, including comedy, dance, singing, magic and other acts, with many of the performers and hosts being popular celebrities.

It is organised on behalf of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, of which Elizabeth II is patron, with all proceeds donated to the fund.

  • Please email any archive material to jimmy@jimmycricket.co.uk
Christmas comes early with special offer 150 150 mhamer

Christmas comes early with special offer
Jimmy Cricket's Pull Your Seats Forward DVD

Jimmy Cricket’s Pull Your Seats Forward DVD which was filmed in Bacup, Lancashire

There are (only) 65 days to Christmas and here is a special offer to start the countdown to the great occasion.

Buy Jimmy Cricket’s DVD Pull Your Seats Forward and you will also receive a free CD of your choice – all for £12 with postage and package included.

The DVD was filmed by Jimmy’s small company, Wellie Boot Productions, a couple of years ago at the Royal Court Theatre in Bacup, Lancashire, near his adopted home of Rochdale in Greater Manchester.

Belfast-born Jimmy produced it in response to the overwhelming public clamour that suggested there was a real demand for a recording of his stand-up.

It is an hour and 10 minutes long and includes Jimmy’s favourite routines, a phone call and letter from his mammy, his famous Leaving Home poem, his sentimental ballad called I’m Dreaming of a Far off Land and 20 minutes of extras.

The DVD is the best in family entertainment and a masterclass in comedy – more than 3,000 copies have already been sold.

Ideal present

This “DVCD” Christmas bundle is great value for money and not available in usual retail outlets.

The only way you can grab this fabulous deal is via this website – click onto Go Shopping page where you will find a purchasing option through Paypal. All orders are processed within 24 hours and we hope to ship out the product to be with you within one week.

When ordering just opt for a DVD purchase in the usual way, but please state during the ordering process which CD you would like to receive free of charge as part of this Christmas bundle.

You can choose from the following CDs: Best of Jimmy Cricket, Jimmy Cricket – I’m Dreaming Of A Far Off Land, Jimmy Cricket – A Bee in His Bonnet.

This DVD will make an ideal Christmas present and if you want a special message signed personally by Jimmy and inserted into the sleeve of the DVD, please send in this request when you order and this will be done at no extra charge.

Get ordering now folks!

Thanks – and have a meal on me! 150 150 mhamer

Thanks – and have a meal on me!

 

The technical crew used Jimmy's money to go to an Italian restaurant

The technical crew used Jimmy’s money to go to an Italian restaurant

Jimmy Cricket recently completed a five-month summer season in Eastbourne – and thanked the technical crew by treating them to an Italian meal.

On the last night of the show, Sentimental Journey, at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre, the famous Irish comedian gave each of the technical staff a tenner as a small token of his appreciation for all their help.

The four, Megan, James, Tim and Jo, went out and spent Jimmy’s financial contribution at an Italian restaurant.

And they sent Jimmy a message of appreciation and said they had all enjoyed working with Jimmy over the summer season.

It read:

Jimmy,

With a hearty thanks from the Royal Hippodrome Crew who enjoyed a splendid post season three-course meal thanks to your generosity.

It’s been a pleasure working with you.

Best regards,

Megan, James, Tim & Jo xx

The crew sent Jimmy photos of them having the meal and he immediately recognised the Italian restaurant as he used to frequent it often over the summer when he was in the resort.

Where’s Jimmy in November? 150 150 mhamer

Where’s Jimmy in November?

Jimmy Cricket poster: Great Value for a Tenner

You may have noticed that the events calendar on this website is still not working properly.

The October dates are all there, but not the ones for November even though they were inputted by the web team several weeks ago.

They will appear once November arrives, but we realise that is of no use to those of you wanting to find out where Jimmy is a month or two in advance.

So again please accept our apologies and while we try to identify and correct the fault, here is Jimmy’s schedule in November – as always events are subject to change, of course.

Fri 2                 Billinghurst Community Centre, Billinghurst, West Sussex
Sat 3 Roydon Marina Village, Roydon
Sun 4 Mill Ryth Holiday Park, Hayling Island
Tue 6 The Grand Theatre, Lancaster
Sat 10 Hove Church (URC)
Mon 12 Red Lion, Stockport
Fri 16 Ruskington Methodist Church, Sleaford
Sat 17 Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough (private party)
Mon 19 Café Salar, Warrington
Fri 23 Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe
Mon 26 Isis Restaurant, Pendlebury
Wed 28 St Mary’s Church, Burnley
Thu 29 English Martyrs, Davyhulme
Fri 30 Haydock Golf Club
Praise for community volunteers 150 150 mhamer

Praise for community volunteers

Jimmy Cricket on the Festival Drayton Centre posterIrish comedian Jimmy Cricket was impressed by a festival centre in Market Drayton which is owned and run by the local community.

The Festival Drayton Centre hosts dance classes, martial arts, adult educational courses, a licensed coffee shop and a state-of-the-art cinema and theatre.

And Jimmy really enjoyed his visit to the north Shropshire theatre, where he performed at the weekend.

He said: “There is one paid member of staff called Glyn Jackson, who is the theatre manager. But everyone else – including the technical staff and box office staff – are all dedicated and passionate individuals who want to retain a live venue in the town of Market Drayton.”

Jimmy was especially full of praise over how the theatre is run by Glyn and was grateful for the help of Peter the technician who helped him with the running of the show.

Established in 1984, the centre underwent a major refurbishment in 2004, resulting in it becoming the Best Regional Winner of the West Midlands Market Towns Award two years later.

Rocking around the clock (on the beach) 150 150 mhamer

Rocking around the clock (on the beach)
Famous funnyman Jimmy Cricket met professional organist Chris Mannion in Eastbourne

Jimmy Cricket met professional organist Chris Mannion in Eastbourne

Jimmy Cricket had them rocking around the clock on the beach this summer!

The famous Irish comedian has recalled the occasion he met professional organist Chris Mannion.

It was on the day that Jimmy appeared live on ITV’s breakfast show, Daybreak, in Eastbourne on the south coast.

“Chris was playing his keyboard as part of the outside broadcast when I arrived on the scene and got the assembled crowd to sing Rock Around The Clock,” laughs Jimmy.

“Chris is a professional organist and is very accomplished. He not only plays at various concerts in Eastbourne, where he lives, but he is much in demand across the country and this extends to playing engagements on cruise ships.

“He is not just a talented person, but a really lovely guy as well.”

Find out more about Chris at http://www.chris-mannion.co.uk.

Jimmy was in Eastbourne two days a week during the summer, starring in Sentimental Journey, which ran at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in the East Sussex town until 26 September.

Still a Mammy’s boy 150 150 mhamer

Still a Mammy’s boy
The Sunday Life article about Jimmy Cricket returning to Belfast for the festival

The Sunday Life article about famous comedian Jimmy Cricket returning to Belfast for the festival

Jimmy Cricket launched an international comedy festival in his native city at the weekend.

Now living in Rochdale, the Northern Irish comedian returned to Belfast to officially open Belly Laughs.

The week-long inaugural Belfast International Comedy Festival began on Sunday with Jimmy’s show at the Black Box venue in the Cathedral Quarter of the city.

In total, the festival, which closes on Sunday (7 October) comprises of 30 performances at 15 venues across Belfast.

As well as stand-up comedy, the festival also features poetry, magic, cabaret, workshops, seminars, club nights, book readings and events for children.

The Belfast-based Sunday Life newspaper previewed the festival and Jimmy’s return to his home city.

Jimmy said: “The show went very well and was a great start to this festival which is in its inaugural year and which it is hoped will become an annual future in Belfast’s cultural calendar.”