Posts Tagged :

belfast

‘Prodigal son’ going back home… 150 150 mhamer

‘Prodigal son’ going back home…

Belly Laughs poster

Belfast-born Jimmy Cricket is returning to his home city – but not for good.

The comedian, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, is appearing at the inaugural Belfast International Comedy Festival, Belly Laughs, which takes place between Sundays 30 September and 7 October.

Jimmy is opening the festival, which will comprise of 30 performances at 15 venues across the city, with a long-awaited performance at The Black Box.  

In addition to the stand-up comedy, the festival strives to challenge, inspire and inform through poetry, magic, cabaret, workshops, seminars, club nights, book readings and events for children.

“It is obviously a tremendous honour for me to be returning home to Belfast to appear in this new comedy festival,” says Jimmy.

“I am really thrilled to be asked. I hope it will be a fantastic success and an annual fixture for a city which is growing in confidence and artistic prosperity.”

More details about Jimmy’s show – and some lavish praise for the “prodigal son” – can be found below.

Jimmy Cricket returning to Belfast to start the comedy festival, Belly Laughs

Whatever happened to…? 150 150 mhamer

Whatever happened to…?

Jimmy Cricket feature in the Daily Express

Famous Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket relived his successful showbiz career in a recent article in a British national newspaper.

The feature, written by Tony Padman, appeared in the magazine section of last Saturday’s Daily Express.

Getting into the spirit for London 2012 150 150 mhamer

Getting into the spirit for London 2012
The grand finale featured all the show's participants who were representing all the many dance schools

The grand finale featured all the show's participants who were representing the many dance schools

Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket got into the Olympic spirit when he compered a dance spectacular celebrating the forthcoming London Games.

The famous funnyman was asked to front up the special show which marked the Olympic Torch coming to Southport ahead of London 2012.

Programme front page for the Olympic dance event

Programme front page

It was staged at the Southport Theatre and organised by the Liverpool-based Allied Dancing Association Limited.

Former Olympic gold medallist Dame Mary Elizabeth Peters was a special guest at the event.

The 19 dance schools which took part in the show were: Garswood School of Dance, Vibe Stage Academy, The Stage School, Harlequin Dance Club, Formby School of Dance, Dance Flava, Claire Knight School of Dance, Martins Dance Centre, Excelsior School of Dance, Phoenix School of Dance, Dance Depot, Liverpool Theatre School, Felicia Burns School of Dance, Chriska Stage School, Marshside School of Dance, Southport School of Dance, Crown Dance School, Jade School of Dance and Dance Passion.

Jimmy Cricket on stage

Jimmy on stage

The general secretary of Allied Dancing Association, Carol Parry, invited Jimmy to host the show. They first met last Christmas during Jimmy’s pantomime season at the Civic Theatre in Darlington. Carol’s daughter, Melissa, featured in the Southport Theatre show as a dancer.

Jimmy says: “This was a spectacular show and my hats off to all the organisers of this event for all the hard work they put into it.

“Special praise to one of the principal organisers, Carol Parry, as she was a real driving force behind the show and she worked tirelessly to ensure it was a huge success!”

Photos for this story were taken by Alan at Photos2U

Belfast celebs meet at Olympic event 150 150 mhamer

Belfast celebs meet at Olympic event
Jimmy Cricket and Dame Mary Peters in Southport

Jimmy Cricket and Dame Mary Peters in Southport. Photos for this story were taken by Alan at Photos2U

Two Belfast celebrities met up in June at an event to mark the year the Olympic Games returned to London.

Olympic gold medallist Dame Mary Elizabeth Peters and top comedian Jimmy Cricket were at the Southport Theatre for a special dance show to celebrate the Olympic Torch coming to the Merseyside seaside resort ahead of London 2012.

Jimmy was asked to compere the show which was organised by the Liverpool-based Allied Dancing Association.

The event’s other special guest was Dame Mary Peters who won gold medal in the pentathlon in the 1972 Munich Games. She represented Northern Ireland at every Commonwealth Games between 1958 and 1974, winning two pentathlon gold medals, plus a gold and a silver for the shot put.

She was born in Lancashire but lived in Belfast from the age of 11.

Jimmy, who was born in Belfast and has lived in Rochdale for many years, said: “It was a real thrill to meet Mary in Southport as she has been one of the great ambassadors of Northern Ireland over the years.

“Her Olympic triumph in Munich was a tremendous achievement, one which should inspire all our home athletes who are currently getting ready for London 2012.”

London also hosted the Olympic Games in 1908 and 1948. The 2012 Games means it will become the first city to have hosted three modern-day Olympics.

Jimmy Cricket and Dame Mary Peters in Southport

Car’s a write-off – but show must go on! 150 150 mhamer

Car’s a write-off – but show must go on!
Jimmy Cricket's car was damaged by a falling tree

Jimmy Cricket's car was written off after being badly damaged by a falling tree

Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket suffered more than just a bit of car trouble only 48 hours before he was due to begin his summer show in Eastbourne.

The vehicle which he and his wife May use for travelling to entertainment venues all over the UK was extensively damaged during bad weather near their home in Rochdale.

“We had a good opening night in Eastbourne, although two days before on the Sunday heavy winds brought a tree down on top of our car which was parked outside the house on the edge of Healey Dell Nature Reserve,” said Jimmy.

“It was a write-off and since then we’ve been driving around in hired cars. Thank God we weren’t in it.”

Jimmy Cricket is starring in a “royal” variety show in Eastbourne to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year.

Sentimental Journey is on at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex, from 1 May to 26 September.

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.

Radio DJ’s photo from the past 150 150 mhamer

Radio DJ’s photo from the past
Jimmy with 10-year-old David at the Lord's Taverners cricket match in the 80s

Jimmy with 10-year-old David at the Lord's Taverners cricket match in the 80s

Jimmy was taken on another nostalgic journey following a radio interview this week.

The Irish funnyman had been speaking to radio presenter David Gordon on the Belfast-based Citybeat about Saturday’s (3 March) funeral of Frank Carson.

After the interview David said that when he was 10 years old he had seen Jimmy in Torquay and had photographic evidence – see above.

David said he went to see Jimmy in a show at the Princess Theatre in Torquay where he was performing along with the late singer Lena Zavaroni.

In an email David said of the photograph: “I think the event was a Lord’s Taverners cricket match in Torquay in summer 1986.”