Posts Tagged :

butlins

Autobiography: Buy The Jimmy Cricket Story now! 150 150 mhamer

Autobiography: Buy The Jimmy Cricket Story now!

The Jimmy Cricket Story is the famous comedian's official autobiography

Jimmy Cricket proudly shows off a copy of his official autobiography, which 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 book can be ordered from online retailer Amazon here.

Jimmy launched the book last week, saying: “It’s here, friends. The story of how it all began.

“From my childhood growing up in Northern Ireland …

“… through the Butlin’s Redcoat days in the sixties,  when every camp  had a custom-built theatre …

“… the Pontins Bluecoat days when I met my good lady May …

” … the northern clubs in the seventies when there was a social club in practically every street corner …

” … and the eighties when the television schedules were dominated by variety shows.

“It’ll strike a chord with older readers and give younger ones an insight into a world that seemed to vanish before our very eyes.

“And there’s more.

“It also gives me a chance to thank publicly some of the people who’ve helped me through life’s journey.”

Warm memories

The page promoting Jimmy’s autobiography on Amazon says: “This book is a personally written account of Jimmy’s 50 Golden Years in showbusiness.

“From holiday camp Redcoat to Bluecoat, then on to his first big break on television, (after many struggles).

“Going on to headline for four of his own series for Central television in the 1980s with Royal Command Performances and TV Variety shows in between.

“Then his BBC Radio 2 series written by the great scriptwriter Eddie Braben in the 1990s which ran for five years called, Jimmy’s Cricket Team.

“As Jimmy says himself in the book: ‘I hope it brings back warm memories for older readers’.

“‘And gives a taste to younger readers of a form of entertainment that seemed to vanish before our very eyes.'”

A reminder that Jimmy’s book is available on 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.

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

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz! 150 150 mhamer

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

Jimmy Cricket is celebrating 50 years in showbiz

Jimmy Cricket has enjoyed a golden career in showbiz – but before that, the comedian was a labourer, waiter, salesman and bingo caller!

The famous funnyman talks about his 50-year career as a high-profile entertainer in his latest newspaper column.

He says that before he became a professional comedian, he worked in the holiday camps as a Redcoat (Butlins) and Bluecoat (Pontins).

However, from each September, Jimmy says he had to have a day job for the winter.

His wife May agreed to give up her singing career so Jimmy could rehearse.

And his showbiz career started to take off when he signed with a top agent.

He also recalls in his Lancashire Post column the problems he encountered for his first gigs.

These included not having his own transport to get to venues!

Jimmy is doing what he describes as a “little five theatres tour” in March as part of the celebrations for his golden anniversary.

They are venues where he has done one-nighters & summer seasons in the past.

Here are those March dates:

Middlesbrough Theatre (Saturday 4 March) – go here for tickets.

Bridlington Spa Theatre (Sunday 12 March) – go here for tickets.

West Cliff Theatre, Clacton-on-Sea (Sunday 19 March) – go here for tickets.

Lancaster Grand Theatre (Saturday 25 March) – go here for tickets. 

Plaza Theatre, Stockport (Sunday 26 March) – go here for tickets.

Jimmy has been making people laugh as a professional comedian for 50 years – and usually raising money for worthy causes at the same time.

Instantly recognisable for wearing a funny hat and green wellies marked L and R on the wrong feet, he proudly keeps his comedy clean – increasingly rare these days –  which makes him a perfect family entertainer.

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.

Read more about Jimmy’s life and career here.

All his tour bookings and other events can be found here.

Jimmy Cricket has been in showbusiness for 50 years

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!

Frankie Whittle: A great friend for over half a century 150 150 mhamer

Frankie Whittle: A great friend for over half a century

What a fabulous turn out for our dear friend and showbiz colleague, Frankie Whittle at Carleton Crematorium today, we started out as Redcoats at Butlins Clacton in 1968, and had remained great friends during all these years! ! R.I.P.

Jimmy Cricket said a final farewell to fellow entertainer Frankie Whittle, a great friend for more than 50 years.

The crematorium service for Frankie, known as Bolton’s “singing milkman”, took place in Blackpool on Wednesday 16 February.

Jimmy said: “What a fabulous turnout for our dear friend and showbiz colleague, Frankie Whittle at Carleton Crematorium today.

“We started out as Redcoats at Butlins Clacton in 1968 and had remained great friends during all these years! R.I.P.”

Jimmy and Frankie were fellow Redcoats at Butlin’s holiday site in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

“Being a Redcoat was a great passion of Frankie’s – he would have done it 365 days of the year if he could,” added Jimmy.

“It’s special to think that we stayed very good friends for 54 years.”

Frankie enjoyed a showbiz career of more than 50 years.

Among other things, he was an actor/panto dame in addition to being singer/compere at The Music Hall Tavern in Blackpool.

Jimmy recently posted a video on social media of a sketch involving dancing binmen in memory of his late friend.

It features him, Frankie and others as binmen who perform a dance routine around the bins.

The funny clip ends with them running after the bin lorry which has driven off without them!

Watch the video by clicking here – it should begin automatically, but if not click on the arrow in the image and turn on/up the volume as necessary.

Frankie’s Redcoat Memories

Also read from this website: Butlin’s reunion from the 1960s

Frankie Whittle: From Butlin’s to Blackpool’s Music Hall Tavern

Frankie Whittle: From Butlin’s to Music Hall Tavern 150 150 mhamer

Frankie Whittle: From Butlin’s to Music Hall Tavern

Hi folks here's a tribute to my great friend Frankie Whittle R.I.P. We first worked together as Red Coats in Butlins in the Summer of 1968 Frankie went on to become an Actor/Panto Dame, and Singer/Compere at The Music Hall Tavern in Blackpool my thoughts are with his sister Carol

Jimmy Cricket has posted a video of dancing binmen in memory of his late friend Frankie Whittle.

The two were fellow Redcoats at Butlin’s holiday site in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, in the 60s.

Frankie, known as Bolton’s own “singing milkman”, enjoyed a showbiz career of more than 50 years.

The video, which Jimmy put on social media, features him, Frankie and others as binmen who perform a dance routine around the bins.

The funny clip ends with them running after the bin lorry which has driven off without them!

Jimmy posted: “Hi folks, here’s a tribute to my great friend Frankie Whittle R.I.P.

“We first worked together as Redcoats in Butlin’s in the summer of 1968.

“Frankie went on to become an actor/panto dame and singer/compere at The Music Hall Tavern in Blackpool.

“My thoughts are with his sister Carol.”

Watch the video by clicking on the arrow in the image below.

Also read from this website: Butlin’s reunion from the 1960s

Frankie’s Redcoat Memories

Iconic art deco Blackpool building up for auction today for £950k

From the archives: Jimmy the Butlin’s camp comic! 150 150 mhamer

From the archives: Jimmy the Butlin’s camp comic!

Jimmy Cricket

Here’s a treat for you from Jimmy’s past – a photo of him as a Butlin’s Redcoat in the late 60s.

Jimmy says: “It was 1967 and I was a Redcoat at Butlin’s in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex.

“The entertainment manager was a man called Bill Martin.

“He’d been a comedian in twice-nightly variety, which meant he toured in theatres up and down the country in the late 40s and early 50s.

“He had a wealth of experience and he took me under his wing.

“He made me the camp comic, which meant I was relieved of official duties and could dress up in silly clothes and gatecrash The Knobbly Knees contest and The Glamorous Grandmother Competition.

“In the enclosed photo, I’ve managed to talk a fellow Redcoat into climbing into a gorilla costume and I walked him round the camp with a lead having photographs taken.

“Happy Days!”

* * Thanks to Neil Whitfield for sending this photo to Jimmy.

Butlins photo from 1968 evokes fond memories 150 150 mhamer

Butlins photo from 1968 evokes fond memories

Butlins Redcoat Jimmy Cricket with Jill Bright and her sister Joy in 1968

A photograph almost half-a-century old has brought back some great memories for famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket.

The Northern Irish comedian was recently sent the picture featuring him as a Butlins Redcoat in 1968.

At that time, Jimmy was at the Butlins resort in the Essex coastal resort of Clacton-on-Sea.

It was sent by a lady from Plymouth called Jill Bright and she and her sister Joy are with Jimmy in the photo above.

Jill explained her family had fond memories from that summer of an Irish Redcoat in Clacton, but it was not until she found negatives of photographs belonging to her mum that she saw a reference to his first name.

When she got the negatives processed, she realised this Irish Redcoat was none other than well-known funnyman Jimmy.

In a further twist, Jill also works in the theatre industry as she is the stage doorkeeper at Plymouth’s Theatre Royal.

Jimmy, 71, said: “I was thrilled to receive the photo as it brought back such wonderful memories for me and I would like to thank Jill for allowing me to see it again.”