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Comedy classic shows feature four famous funnymen 150 150 mhamer

Comedy classic shows feature four famous funnymen

The comedians - Classic Comedy With Roy Walker, Adrian Walsh, Jimmy Cricket and Gene Fitzpatrick with Clubsound

Two shows featuring four Northern Irish comedy legends take place on the Emerald Isle early in 2024.

Our very own Jimmy Cricket is among the quartet, which also includes Roy Walker who presented popular TV game show Catchphrase for more than a decade.

Gene Fitzpatrick and Adrian Walsh complete the fab four.

Musical accompaniment and laughter comes from comedy showband Clubsound.

The first show is at the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine on Tuesday 23 January (8pm).

Book online here or call the box office on 028 7012 3123.

The Grand Opera House in Belfast – the city of Jimmy’s birthplace – hosts the second performance on Friday 22 March (7.30pm).

You can book here. Alternatively, phone 028 9024 1919.

Autobiography

Don’t forget that Jimmy Cricket’s autobiography is on sale.
Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian is priced at £11.99 as a paperback.

It is also available as an ebook priced £9.99 (unless you have subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, in which case it is free).

Amazon Kindle allows users to read ebooks purchased on Amazon.

Jimmy has said he is happy to sign copies of the book at his live shows, where they are available for a discounted price of £10.

The autobiography tells the heart-warming story of his 50 golden years in showbusiness – told in his own words.

Recognisable for wearing a funny hat and green wellies marked L and R on the wrong feet, Jimmy has been making people laugh as a professional comedian for half a century.

And he proudly keeps his comedy clean – increasingly rare these days –  making him the perfect family entertainer.

The book is available from online retailer Amazon here.

Mary’s Meals

His best-known catchphrases include ‘And there’s more!’ and ‘Come closer!’

He is also famed for reading out Letters from his Mammy, which have provided the material for two published books.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Also read: Mary’s Meals: 20 years serving global communities

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

Easter cruise included special birthday celebration 150 150 mhamer

Easter cruise included special birthday celebration

A thunderstorm and a timely stop-off to celebrate a special birthday helped to make Jimmy Cricket’s Easter cruise a memorable one!

Famous funnyman Jimmy was a celebrity entertainer on the Ambience, the flagship of Ambassador Cruise Line.

His wife, May – a professional singer – accompanied him on the boat, which set sail from London Tilbury on 3 April.

Guernsey, Tobermory on the Isle of Mull and Belfast in Northern Ireland – Jimmy’s place of birth – were among the destinations on the 11-night trip.

It included a ‘Journey through Holy Week’ theme, with Easter services and reflections on board.

Jimmy said: “It was organised by a lifelong friend of ours called Chris Gidney who used to run an organisation called Christians in Entertainment, so it was Christian-themed.

“When we stopped at Belfast, May and I were able to attend a birthday lunch to celebrate her brother Carson’s 80th birthday.

“How convenient was that!?”

He added: “And when we docked in the port of Cherbourg, we were hit by a thunderstorm!”

‘What a star!’

High praise for Jimmy came from one of the passengers called MJ Simpson (pictured below).

Here is MJ’s description of himself on his Twitter profile.

“Writes a bit, acts a bit, doesn’t sing. One book every 20 years or so. Proud owner of the officially second-best handlebar moustache in Britain.”

He posted after the cruise: “The absolute highlight of an @ambassadorcruis packed with great times was seeing and even meeting comedy legend @jimmy__cricket.

“Two hilarious shows and he took time to chat with every fan.

“What a star!”

The absolute highlight of @ambassadorcruis packed with great times was seeing and even meeting comedy legend @jimmy__cricket.

The celebrity entertainers on board included Syd Little, of comedy duo Little and Large fame.

Jimmy posted on social media; “My heartfelt thanks to @ambassadorcruis and to organiser @ChrisGidney1 & Katherine & Tony & Maggie & @RealSidLittle & Sheree alongside @mimilabonqu & Pad, @revcindy1 & Jeff & Rev Ed & Margaret for the joyful Easter Celebrations & fun we had in each other’s company while onboard!”

Find out who else was on the cruise here.

Also read: Little and Large: It was a joy to work with them both

Jimmy’s autobiography!

Don’t forget that Jimmy’s official autobiography is now on sale.

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian tells the heart-warming story of Jimmy’s illustrious life and career – told in his own words.

The paperback costs £11.99 and is available at online retailer Amazon here.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Also read: Autobiography: Buy The Jimmy Cricket Story now!

Belfast among UK destinations on special Easter cruise 150 150 mhamer

Belfast among UK destinations on special Easter cruise

We hope that you will unwind in comfortable surroundings as we take an exciting voyage across the waters whilst celebrating Easter with our special celebrity entertainers and guests.

The city in which Jimmy Cricket was born is among the ports of call on his current working cruise around the British Isles and France.

Famous funnyman Jimmy is a celebrity entertainer on the Ambience, the flagship of Ambassador Cruise Line.

The boat set sail from London Tilbury on Monday (3 April).

Guernsey, Tobermory on the Isle of Mull and Belfast in Northern Ireland – Jimmy’s place of birth – are among the destinations on the 11-night trip.

Le Havre in France is also on the itinerary for the Easter British Isles Discovery.

It includes a ‘Journey through Holy Week’ theme with Easter services and reflections on board.

Promotional material about the cruise says Jimmy is one of a rare breed of “‘clean’ comedians who has his audiences falling off their seats with laughter”.

It adds he “will be delighting [audiences] … with cabaret appearances”.

Syd Little, of comedy duo Little and Large fame, is also one of the celebrity entertainers on  the cruise.

Find out who else is on the cruise here.

Little and Large: It was a joy to work with them both

Jimmy’s autobiography!

Don’t forget that Jimmy’s official autobiography is now on sale.

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian tells the heart-warming story of Jimmy’s illustrious life and career – told in his own words.

It can be ordered from online retailer Amazon here.

The paperback is priced at £11.99.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Latest What About You podcast features Jimmy Cricket 150 150 mhamer

Latest What About You podcast features Jimmy Cricket

Listen now to a podcast in which Jimmy Cricket talks about his life and career.

Podcast featuring Jimmy Cricket

The popular Northern Irish comedian is the focus of the latest in a series of podcasts hosted by Richard Moore.

Richard was shot and blinded in 1972 during the Northern Ireland conflict when he was 10 years old.

His podcast series is called What About You and contains one-to-one conversations with his guests.

It focuses on a variety of human stories, which are inspirational, challenging, humorous and sometimes sad.

And it is an opportunity for individuals to share their life journey in a way that will hopefully have a positive impact on listeners.

Jimmy retweeted the following post: “WhatAboutYouPodcast @WhatAboutYouRMSeason 2, Episode 2! Irish comedian @jimmy__cricket from Northern Ireland first came to fame in the 1970s.”

In this episode, Jimmy chats about his journey to stardom.

From working in a betting office in Belfast, as a Redcoat in Butlin’s, to being a top comedian across the UK and Ireland.

LISTEN NOW: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/what-about-you/id1537387388

Also read: Two great venues to get the new year up and running!

Happy St Patrick’s Day folks! 150 150 mhamer

Happy St Patrick’s Day folks!

Belfast-born Jimmy Cricket has wished everybody a happy St Patrick's Day.

Belfast-born Jimmy Cricket has wished everybody a happy St Patrick’s Day!

The famous funnyman donned a green bow-tie and his trademark hat in a special celebratory poster (above).

It was posted on social media.

Millions of people around the world mark the day on 17 March every year.

It is a celebration of Irish history and culture.

And it is a national holiday in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

St Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland, which is known as the Emerald Isle.

St Patrick’s Day: Everything you need to know (an article from the BBC website).

Watch: Happy St Patrick’s Day message from Jimmy (from 2020) – from this website

 

Musical about Victoria Cross hero set for Remembrance Sunday 150 150 mhamer

Musical about Victoria Cross hero set for Remembrance Sunday
Come here, come here! We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm. And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

Jimmy Cricket’s musical about Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross takes place on Remembrance Sunday.

Let’s hear it for the wee man will be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on 10 November in aid of the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal.

It tells the courageous story of submariner James Magennis who grew up in abject poverty in Belfast and joined the Royal Navy aged 15.

He won the UK’s highest military honour for his bravery onboard a midget sub that attacked the Japanese cruiser Takao on 31 July 1945.

His job was to attach six mines to the enemy vessel in the risky covert operation in Singapore Harbour.

Jimmy and @RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the James Magennis play

However, he ran into difficulties and faced grave danger.

But he persisted with the mission before returning to the sub exhausted.

King George VI recognised his heroics by awarding him the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry.

Magennis continued his service until 1949 when he returned home with his wife Edna Skidmore and their four sons.

In 1952, he lost his job and was forced to sell his VC medal.

However, an anonymous benefactor later returned it to him on the condition he did not sell it again.

Blue plaque

Magennis spent the rest of his life in Yorkshire working as an electrician before dying of cancer in 1986 aged 66.

His heroics were commemorated in 2018 with a special blue plaque in his honour.

Belfast-born Jimmy has written both the words and the music for the play.

It features actor Charles Lawson, actress and singer Sue Devaney, actor Nick Newbould and comedian Jimmy himself.

Tickets are available at Rochdale Town Hall from the reception or by contacting 01706 924773. Tickets cost £10.

Read more about the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal here.

Jimmy and the mayor met up recently to promote the play.

Rochdale Council tweeted: “Come here, come here!

“We were bowled over by the legendary Jimmy Cricket promoting his brilliant new concert, to be performed at Rochdale Town Hall on Sun 10 Nov, 4pm-5pm.

“And there’s more! Here’s Jimmy and@RochdaleMayor Coun Billy Sheerin having a good old yarn about the event.”

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.
My visit to Ruby Murray mural on eve of Newry show 150 150 mhamer

My visit to Ruby Murray mural on eve of Newry show

David Hull Promotions 6 September at 16:53 · Before their comedy show in Newry last night. Jimmy Cricket and John Linehan aka May McFettridge's driver stopped by to look at this Ruby Murray Mural on the Donegall Road Belfast.

Jimmy Cricket went to see a mural of an old friend – Ruby Murray – when he returned to the Emerald Isle recently.

The popular entertainer was in his birth city of Belfast preparing to appear in the You Must Be Joking show at Newry Town Hall.

The night before the performance, he went with John Linehan, aka May McFettridge, to look at the mural (above) on the Donegall Road.

Ruby was a Northern Irish singer and actress. She was one of the most popular singers in the British Isles in the 1950s, having several hits in the UK Singles.

In March 1955, she made pop chart history by having five singles in the Top Twenty in one week.

Jimmy said: “I had the great pleasure of knowing Ruby when she lived down in Torquay, Devon. Mrs C and myself shared many a laugh with this great lady of song!”

You Must Be Joking' - Join George Jones as he introduces a night of the best of Northern Irish stand-ups for an evening of pure comedy heaven on Thursday 5th September at Newry Town Hall.Also appearing in the show on Thursday 5 September with Jimmy and John were Gene Fitzpatrick and George Jones.

Added Jimmy: “My thanks to #DavidHullPromotions for all the hospitality yesterday while doing the show with John, Gene, George and Ivan on keyboards, it was very much appreciated! ????”

David Hull Promotions, one of Northern Ireland’s leading Entertainment Agencies for over 30 years, co-produced the performance.

The show was part of lur Cinn Fleadh, an annual traditional Irish music and community festival in Newry City, County Down.

It took place from 5–8 September in various venues.

May McFettridge is known as Northern Ireland’s very own queen of comedy.

She has earned a special place in the hearts of audiences young and old alike with her distinctive brand of affectionate but well-aimed gibes and witticisms.

May has been the Panto Dame in the Grand Opera House Belfast for almost 30 years.