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Jimmy in comedy marathon on BBC 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy in comedy marathon on BBC
Jimmy Cricket and Mick Miller with a couple of fans before their show in Edinburgh

Jimmy and Mick with a couple of fans before their show in Edinburgh

Jimmy Cricket has taken part in a televised comedy marathon spectacular.

The Northern Irish funnyman was among 40 comedians to perform in the eight-hour overnight show (9pm-5am) at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 2012 on Friday 17 August.

And Jimmy did not take to the stage until 2.50am!

The show was broadcast throughout the night on the BBC digital channel and BBC3 has edited the event down to a one-hour highlights package which it will screen three times, the first at 9pm tomorrow (Friday 31 August).

Jimmy Cricket and Mick Miller get ready for their show at the Ace Dome

Jimmy and Mick get ready for their show at the Ace Dome

Watch a preview trailer of the programme here, though it is accompanied by a warning about strong language (none from Jimmy, we hasten to add!).

See the line-up of comedians and Jimmy’s profile.

Jimmy was also at the world-famous Edinburgh Festival to team up with one of his contemporaries, Mick Miller, as part of their short tour around the UK which also includes Darlington, Preston, Chester, Sheffield and Manchester.

The ‘Jimmy & Mick 2012 UK Tour’ show in Edinburgh was at a venue called the Ace Dome, which is among several Fringe venues run by the Pleasance company – one of the Fringe’s key venue organisers.

Jimmy said: “I really enjoy working with Mick and feel we complement each other’s style of comedy.

“The show was a sell-out and was well received by spectators and critics alike. The show indeed got this year’s festival talking and I think both of us made an impact!”

During his visit to the Fringe, Jimmy also took part in a podcast with Mick Miller, which was hosted by the young comedy double act Peacock and Gamble.

And after his Ace Dome show with Mick, Jimmy travelled over to the main Pleasance complex to take part in that evening’s version of the Horne Section – hosted by the comedian Alex Horne.

Jimmy ended his set on this show with a rendition of ‘Tequila’, which he played on his saxophone with Alex and his band providing the accompaniment.

Jimmy and Mick get ready to record a podcast with Peacock and Gamble

Jimmy and Mick get ready to record a podcast with Peacock and Gamble

Jimmy appears live on television 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy appears live on television
Daybreak presenter Gethin Jones (left) with Billy Fury tribute act Colin Gold (centre) and Jimmy

Daybreak presenter Gethin Jones (left) with Billy Fury tribute act Colin Gold (centre) and JimmyCricket

Jimmy Cricket returned to the “small screen” today.

The famous Irish comedian,  who has made many television appearances over the past few decades and had his own series on Central Television in the mid-1980s called And There’s More, appeared live on ITV’s breakfast show, Daybreak.

Alongside him were fellow entertainers in Sentimental Journey, the family extravaganza running at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex, from 1 May to 26 September.

Jimmy said: “Today the Olympic Torch journeyed through the town of Eastbourne.

“Daybreak had both weather and magazine inserts broadcast live from the resort to mark not only the torch event, but to also feature the British seaside resort as we head into the school summer holidays.”

The presenter who interviewed Jimmy was Daybreak’s Gethin Jones who was previously on the BBC’s Blue Peter. He joined the breakfast show back in May this year.

Jimmy, who told a couple of jokes live on air, was introduced by Gethin as “the legend that is Jimmy Cricket”.

Watch Jimmy with Gethin on Daybreak here.

* Performances for Sentimental Journey are at 8.15 each Tuesday and Wednesday night throughout the summer. Tickets cost £12 and £17 – go here for more information.

Jimmy Cricket on ITV's Daybreak with singers Colin Gold and Tracy Lea in Eastbourne

Jimmy Cricket on ITV's Daybreak with singers Colin Gold and Tracy Lea (Connie Francis tribute act)

Back to Belfast 150 150 mhamer

Back to Belfast
Jimmy Cricket and Gerry Kelly

Jimmy Cricket and Gerry Kelly

Jimmy Cricket returned to his roots recently.

The well-known Belfast-born comic went back to his native city to watch a musical and do a phone-in on a radio show.

He explained: “We received some photos from the foyer of the Grand Opera House in Belfast where I went to see my grand niece in the musical Annie.

“I’m pictured with famous Northern Ireland television and radio presenter Gerry Kelly. I was doing a live phone-in on Gerry’s very popular radio series. Before going into the media Gerry studied to be a teacher in Heywood.”

Jimmy is also pictured with members of the amateur dramatics society.

Meet the Wooden Hut Club 150 150 mhamer

Meet the Wooden Hut Club
Members of the Wooden Hut Club

Members of the Wooden Hut Club

November saw the latest gathering of the informal showbiz fraternity group that Jimmy Cricket attends, which is lovingly called the “Wooden Hut Club”.

Conveniently for Jimmy, the location where this get-together takes place is in Rochdale. It was felt Rochdale was well placed on the M62 between Manchester/Cheshire and Yorkshire for his showbiz pals to get to. After the first ‘do’ was successfully held at the Royal Toby Hotel restaurant on Manchester Road in Castleton, the club have met there ever since.

This gathering has been meeting on and off for last four years and, as you can see from the photo, there was a large number who attended the last lunch showing it is well supported. This is probably because it is a rare chance for showbiz professionals to come together and catch up with the industry news – and of course reminisce about old times.

Some of the individuals in the photo with Jimmy are: Buzz Hawkins from ‘The Bradshaws’, ‘The Comedians’ producer Johnnie Hamp, impressionist Johnny More, BBC radio producer Steve Garner, comedy script writer Phil Collinge, the wife of former BBC radio comedy producer Mike Craig, Treflyn Jones from Target television and entertainer Eric Devereaux.

Starring in a charity gala 150 150 mhamer

Starring in a charity gala

Carnival of Dreams posterJimmy Cricket is among the entertainers appearing in a charity gala in support of Donna’s Dream House at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool.

Carnival of Dreams will also feature Gareth Gates, Denise Nolan, Irish international singing star Rose-Marie, JK as Robbie Williams, International comedy entertainer Kenny Cantor, Aimi MacDonald, Sue Devaney (BBC’s Dinnerladies), International female impersonator Ceri Dupree, Scott Wright (Coronation Street) and the cast of Blackpool’s rock and roller coaster musical Booze Birds & Blackpool Rock, Top UK & World Elvis impersonator Martin Fox, Jamie Pugh from Britain’s Got Talent, Comical singing ventriloquist Kieran Powell, Shani Cantor, Leo Jones Star of TV’s Airline, Scottish Champions Craig Paton on the accordion and Andy Kain on the fiddle, Fylde Scottish Country Dancers, Barry Haywood, Iain Matley, and Blackpool’s very own Funny Girls, Langley Dance Centre, Mary Whelan School of Irish Dancing, Blackpool Circus School and Greater Manchester Pipe Band.

It takes place on Sunday, August 7 – full details in Jimmy’s events calendar and view the full gala poster here.