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aladdin

Dame Barbara Windsor: Lovely ‘Babs’ lit up the stage 150 150 mhamer

Dame Barbara Windsor: Lovely ‘Babs’ lit up the stage

So sad about the passing of Barbara Windsor, the enclosed photo is a picture of the Aladdin cast, at the Theatre Royal Nottingham Babs was principal boy, and her vitality and energy light up the stage, she will be sadly missed by all her fellow pros and fans alike! R.I.P. lovely lady!The late Barbara Windsor lit up the stage with her “vitality and energy”, says Jimmy Cricket.

Comedian Jimmy performed alongside Dame Barbara in a production of Aladdin at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham during the 1985-86 panto season.

The photo right is of the entire cast from Aladdin, with Jimmy at the front with Barbara.

Jimmy posted the photo on social media.

He said: “So sad about the passing of Barbara, the enclosed photo is a picture of the Aladdin cast, at the Theatre Royal Nottingham.

“Babs was principal boy, and her vitality and energy lit up the stage.

“She will be sadly missed by all her fellow pros and fans alike!

“R.I.P. lovely lady! ????”

Jimmy took the role of Wishee Washee in the Nottingham panto.

The Patton Brothers, Brian and Jimmy, played the Chinese Policemen, while Billy Dainty was Widow Twankey.

Actress Dame Barbara, who was best known for her roles in EastEnders and the Carry On films, died on Thursday aged 83.

She passed away peacefully from Alzheimer’s, having been diagnosed six years ago.

Dame Barbara played landlady Peggy Mitchell in EastEnders.

Her last appearance in the soap was in 2016.

The same year she became a dame for her services to charity and entertainment.

Also read: Ice cream sketch with the Patton brothers

 

Why it might be tough to stage pantos this year… 150 150 mhamer

Why it might be tough to stage pantos this year…
Dick Whittington cast

Jimmy played Professor Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington in both Ellesmere Port and his adopted hometown of Rochdale across the 2017 festive season

Jimmy Cricket has provided a light-hearted view as to why pantos would be tricky to produce during coronavirus.

The famous funnyman has appeared in many pantos across the decades.

There is a possibility that some may take place over Christmas if the national restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic are not too strict at that time.

Indoor theatres, ice rinks and soft play centres were allowed to reopen in mid-August in most part of the country.

The government placed the United Kingdom into lockdown in late March.

Some areas still have tougher measures in place than others.

Jimmy joked: “It would be hard to do panto this year.

“Cinderella would have to keep a safe social distance from Prince Charming.

“Every time Aladdin rubs the lamp he’ll have to run off stage to wash his hands.

“And it would have to be Snow White and the Six Dwarfs. Well we couldn’t have Sneezy!”

His social media post attracted some comments, including the following:

Saw u a few year back when you done a Christmas show in wisbech. Throughly enjoyed it and grew up watching you on prime time Saturday night tv

He’s 2 meters behind you! Oh no he isn’t!

1st class, loved watching you as a child

:: Jimmy is appearing again at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool.

He also has a show at the Bridlington Spa theatre on Sunday 27 September.

Book tickets for the show here

Also read: Reunion with panto co-star in Clacton-on-Sea

Nostalgic flashback: Christmas panto 2010 150 150 mhamer

Nostalgic flashback: Christmas panto 2010

Jimmy Cricket was reminded of a Christmas pantomime past through a series of photographs sent to him recently.

The pictures were from the 2010-11 festive season when the famous entertainer appeared at the Doncaster Civic Theatre in a panto version of Aladdin.

This Christmas show was produced by David Lee of Pantoni Productions and it was he who sent Jimmy the images in the slideshow above.

Funnyman Jimmy said: “It was a nice reminder of the show and its cast, whom I enjoyed working with.”

Since Aladdin there has been a change of scenery for the arts in Doncaster because this pantomime was one of the last before the civic theatre was demolished.

It was replaced by a brand new modern arts centre called Cast and so now only memories remain of what was the town’s main auditorium for a number of years.

* Click on either of the arrow buttons above to view the slideshow.

Ice Cream sketch with the Patton brothers 150 150 mhamer

Ice Cream sketch with the Patton brothers

The Ice Cream sketch which Jimmy Cricket did with the Patton brothers

Photographs of a Christmas pantomime more than 25 years ago brought back some happy memories for famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket.

The Irish comedian performed in a production of Aladdin at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham during the 1985-86 panto season.

Brian Patton, one half of a very experienced double act called the Patton Brothers, has posted the photos seen on this page on his Facebook profile.

Jimmy Cricket with the Patton brothers

He and his brother, Jimmy, have an accumulated wealth of knowledge gained from almost 60 years in the entertainment business.

And they are the two elder brothers of Paul and Barry Elliot, the Chuckle Brothers. Their father was comedian Gene Patton.

Both Jimmy and Brian have made many appearances in ChuckleVision with their younger brothers.

Above is a photo of the Ice Cream sketch which Jimmy did with the Patton brothers.

This was part of a production of Aladdin at the Theatre Royal in Nottingham during the 1985-6 Christmas season. Jimmy took the role of Wishee Washee and the Patton Brothers played the Chinese Policemen.

The photo above right is of the three of them again during the same season, but this time not in costume.

And the third picture – below – is of the entire cast from Aladdin, which also featured Barbara Windsor as Aladdin and Billy Dainty as Widow Twankey.

Jimmy said: “The photos brought back many happy memories of the season for me!”

The Irish Family History Centre has recently published an article about the fascinating life and the Irish roots of the late Dame Barbara Windsor.

You can read the piece here.

The entire cast from Aladdin which also featured Barbara Windsor as Aladdin and Billy Dainty as Widow Twankey