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Jim Bowen: Jimmy Cricket pays newspaper tribute 150 150 mhamer

Jim Bowen: Jimmy Cricket pays newspaper tribute

Jimmy Cricket paid tribute to Jim Bowen in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket remembered the late Jim Bowen in his most recent monthly newspaper column in the Lancashire Post.

Broadcaster and comedian Jim, best known for hosting darts-based game show Bullseye in the 1980s and ’90s, died on 14 March at the age of 80.

And Jimmy told some nostalgic anecdotes about his good friend’s life and career in the 26 March edition of the Preston-based paper.

It included the time when presenter Eamonn Andrews arrived on a train to present Jim with the famous Big Red Book on This is Your Life.

Former deputy headmaster Jim, who lived in North Lancashire, began his career as a stand-up comedian on the club circuit in the 1960s. He became a household name when he began presenting Bullseye in 1981. The Sunday tea time show ran for 14 years.

And Jimmy recalled how he threw some darts for charity on Bullseye, while Jim did a sketch with him on his own television show And There’s More.

Click here to watch Jimmy’s appearance on Bullseye.

Banjo duo, dancers and the three-tenner sketch at Stockport’s The Plaza 150 150 mhamer

Banjo duo, dancers and the three-tenner sketch at Stockport’s The Plaza

Stockport's Plaza Theatre

Jimmy Cricket returned to The Plaza variety theatre in Stockport at the weekend to do his fourth show there.

Other acts included Shep’s Banjo Duo and dancers from the Stockport-based Debut Arts academy.

The famous comedian, 72, had last performed there in January 2016 and was clearly delighted to be back.

Afterwards he tweeted: “Wonderful Sunday afternoon performing alongside Howard and Steve, Shep’s Banjo Duo, Debut Arts Academy, with Ted Doan Manager and actor who took the lead in the, “The 3 Tenner Sketch”, my thanks goes to Stage, Sound and Lighting, Lawerence, Ben and Pam.”

Christmas show @Square Chapel in Halifax was a ‘wonderful evening’ 150 150 mhamer

Christmas show @Square Chapel in Halifax was a ‘wonderful evening’

Jimmy Cricket posted a thank-you message on Twitter after his Christmas show at the Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax, West YorkshireJimmy Cricket expressed his thanks to all after thoroughly enjoying his Christmas show at the Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Friday’s event also featured pianist Roger Stevenson, songwriters Cath Binns and Angus MacGregor, festive songs from the Halifax-based Sing for Fun ladies group and Christmas cheer from the local talented performers of the Stage Door Studio Theatre Workshop.

Afterwards, Jimmy posted a message on social media channel Twitter saying it had been a “wonderful evening”.

Arts centre in Halifax to host Christmas show 150 150 mhamer

Arts centre in Halifax to host Christmas show

Jimmy Cricket will be teaming up with the local community for a special Christmas show at the Square Chapel Arts Centre in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

Jimmy Cricket

The famous entertainer will be armed with his usual one-liners galore, a sprinkling of visual comedy and, yes, that ever present letter from his mammy!

The show, on Friday 24 November, will also feature the musical prowess of songwriters Cath Binns and Angus MacGregor, festive songs from the Halifax-based Sing for Fun ladies group and Christmas cheer from the local talented performers of the Stage Door Studio Theatre Workshop.

Tickets for the show are £10 per ticket with Under-16s getting in for £5. More details can be found at www.squarechapel.co.uk

Jimmy Cricket

 

LEP column: Here’s to the king of comedy writers 150 150 mhamer

LEP column: Here’s to the king of comedy writers

Jimmy Cricket's Lancashire Evening Post columnJimmy Cricket remembers legendary comedy writer and close friend, the late Eddie Braben, in one of his recent newspaper columns.

Edwin ‘Eddie’ Charles Braben was best known for providing material for Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Ken Dodd.

He was credited with changing the profile of Morecambe and Wise, helping to turn them into one of the most popular and enduring comedy acts in the history of British entertainment.

Belfast-born entertainer Jimmy, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, recalls in the Lancashire Post how Eddie started out as a market trader, selling fruit and veg from a stall in Liverpool’s St John precinct. In his spare time, he made up jokes.

Jimmy says how nervous he was when he first met Eddie, adding: “That was the start of a beautiful friendship that spanned two TV series, five radio series and even a book of letters from my Mammy.”

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy developed a lasting friendship with Eddie who sadly died aged 82 in May 2013. Below is a newspaper article in which Jimmy paid tribute to his old pal at the time.

Jimmy Cricket pays tribute to Eddie Braben in the Rochdale Observer

Forgotten passport nearly KO-ed Greek cruise shows with Rory Bremner 150 150 mhamer

Forgotten passport nearly KO-ed Greek cruise shows with Rory Bremner

Jimmy Cricket's column in the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket once failed to persuade the authorities in Athens to let him into Greece without his passport.

The famous entertainer was scheduled to do some shows on a cruise ship around the Greek Islands with friend and impressionist Rory Bremner.

It was during the 1980s when Jimmy, now 70, had his TV series And There’s More, for which he did some YouTube sketches with Bremner, then a “young, fresh-faced impressionist doing his stint in a pub in London”.

Jimmy’s agent told Jimmy he had arranged a three-day cruise for him and Rory performing cabaret on board.

“Now prior to this, I hadn’t been out of the country with Mrs Cricket and, as we had a young family then, it was usually to Disneyland in Florida,” he told readers of the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post in his July column.

“In other words, my good lady took care of all the travel arrangements. Sooo – and you’re probably not going to believe this – but I actually headed off to Greece with my hat, my wellies, my jammies, my toothbrush, but without – wait for this – my passport!”

He said he somehow managed to get the staff at Heathrow – who recognised him – to go through, they but warned him the Greek authorities “might not be so understanding”.

And despite Jimmy showing staff at Athens photos from his suitcase of him in his full stage costume of hat and wellies and also contacting the cruise organiser and British Embassy official, he still ended up spending the night sleeping on the airport floor!

However, Mrs Cricket sent his passport details through the next morning and he finally got to go on the cruise.

 

A special guest on tour of world-famous Osmonds 150 150 mhamer

A special guest on tour of world-famous Osmonds

Jimmy Cricket will be teaming up with the world-famous Osmonds for a special Christmas tour later this year

Jimmy Cricket is teaming up with several of the world-famous Osmonds for a special tour of the UK later this year.

The well-known Northern Irishman comedian will be a special guest for the series of shows, called the Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular, throughout the month of December.

The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied history as star performers.

They started their musical careers as children and achieved further success as teen-music idols, going on to produce a hit television show and also perform as solo and group artists.

The Osmonds group first comprised brothers Alan, Wayne, Merril and Jay Osmond. They were later joined by younger siblings Donny – the most famous of all of them – and Jimmy. Their only sister Marie, who rarely sang with her brothers at that time, launched a successful solo career in 1973.

Jimmy said: “The month of December has traditionally meant pantomime time and this tour will be quite a departure for me.

“Nonetheless, it is an exciting prospect and I cannot wait to team up with the Osmonds, who have a global following and reputation.

“Although I love the art form of pantomime and the attraction it holds for children and families, I have thought for some time that there should be an alternative offering out there over the Christmas period.

“This show fits the bill perfectly and the atmosphere at each venue will be so uplifting that those in attendance will definitely leave in the Christmas spirit!”

Tickets for the tour will go on pre-sale from Wednesday morning (March 25), with tickets on general sale from Friday.

Full list of dates and venues for the Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular are as follows:

DECEMBER

TUES 8 – MALVERN Theatres 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

WED 9 – GUILDFORD G Live 0844 7701 797 www.GLive.co.uk

THURS 10 – WORTHING Assembly Hall 01903 206206 www.worthingtheatres.co.uk

FRI 11 – HARROGATE International Centre 01423 502116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

SAT 12 – CROYDON Fairfield Halls 020 8688 9291 www.fairfield.co.uk

SUN 13 – WATFORD Colosseum 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

MON 14 – MARGATE Winter Gardens 01843 292795 www.margatewintergardens.co.uk

TUES 15 – EASTBOURNE Congress Theatre 01323 412000 www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

WED 16 – LONDON Indigo2 08448 244824 www.axs.com

THURS 17 – WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall 0870 320 7000 www.wolvescivic.co.uk

FRI 18 – BRADFORD St George’s Hall 01274 432000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

SAT 19 – BURNLEY Mechanics Theatre 01282 664400 www.burnleymechanics.co.uk

SUN 20 – NEWCASTLE City Hall 0191 277 8030 www.newcastlecityhall.org

MON 21 – EDINBURGH Queens Theatre 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net

TUES 22 – CHESTERFIELD Winding Wheel 01246 345222 www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

The tour is promoted by Tony Denton Promotions and  for more information about the show and for links to each individual venue, please go to the Tony Denton Promotions website at www.tdpromo.com