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comedy

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.”

You Must Be Joking show at the Millennium Forum 150 150 mhamer

You Must Be Joking show at the Millennium Forum

You Must Be Joking takes place at the Millennium ForumFamous funnyman Jimmy Cricket is again appearing alongside several fellow comedians in the popular You Must Be Joking show.

He will perform as usual with fellow Ulster comedians, John Linehan (aka May McFettridge), Gene Fitzpatrick and William Caulfield.

The quartet played to sellout shows across Northern Ireland in 2016.

They will appear together at Derry’s Millennium Forum theatre at 8pm on Sunday 4 February.

Jimmy, 72, with his funny hat and his wellies on the wrong feet, will be reading his letter from his Mammy and getting up to his usual shenanigans.

The first lady of Irish comedy, May McFettridge, also fresh from panto, will abuse all and sundry.

William Caulfield, who has cruised the world with his stand-up show, will regale the audience with stories of everyday life from home and abroad in his hilarious homegrown style.

Gene Fitzpatrick, with his wonderfully warm personality making him a master storyteller and king of the one-liners, will tell tales of ‘The Vision’, his lovely long suffering wife and many other stories!

Compere for the evening is May McFettridge’s long-suffering driver, John Linehan.

More details can be obtained by visiting the theatre’s website here.

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

Norman Wisdom tribute act is part of charity gala 150 150 mhamer

Norman Wisdom tribute act is part of charity gala

Jimmy Cricket has been invited to take part in a fundraiser in May with a distinctive Norman Wisdom feel.TV entertainer Jimmy Cricket has been invited to take part in a fundraiser in May with a distinctive Norman Wisdom feel.

This is because the charity gala on Saturday 6 May is being organised by Barbara Lindsay – who was legendary comedian Sir Norman Wisdom’s PA – and produced and presented by the impresario Johnny Mans – Norman’s agent for many years.

The show will even feature an impersonator of the man himself as Glenn M Ford, who performs as a tribute to Norman Wisdom, will be part of the show’s line-up.

This event is being organised by Barbara to raise funds for churches in and around the town of Whittlesey within the Cambridgeshire Fens.

With the Ivy Leaf Club chosen as the venue, the evening’s proceedings which Johnny Mans has put together, will not just include himself as compere and Glenn Ford as Norman, alongside Jimmy, it also features 60s star Jess  Conrad, illusionist Daniel Dean and a host of other entertainment surprises.

Jimmy, 71, said: “I am looking forward to teaming up once more with Johnny Mans, whom I have known for a long time, and am very pleased to be lending my support to this special event.”

Charity comedy night for pilgrimage to Lourdes 150 150 mhamer

Charity comedy night for pilgrimage to Lourdes

Sick children on a pilgrimage with the Catholic Church to Lourdes

Veteran entertainer Jimmy Cricket is appearing in a charity show in Greater Manchester on Friday (29 April).

The comedy night in Bury is being staged to raise much-needed funds to send sick children on a pilgrimage with the Catholic Church to the famous shrine of Lourdes in the South of France (last year’s group are pictured above).

Jimmy’s daughter, comedienne Katie Mulgrew, will host the show! The line-up has a further family twist as Jimmy’s son, former comedian Frankie Doodle – who left the stage for the pulpit and who is now Fr Frankie Mulgrew – will also be performing.

The list of entertainers is completed by special guest comedian Steve Royle from BBC Radio Lancashire’s Saturday morning show.

Friday at the Fusiliers will be held in the function suite of the Fusiliers Museum in Bury town centre.

Tickets for the event, priced £12 in advance and £13 on the door, are available from the museum in person, on (0161) 763 8950 or via email at enquiries@fusiliermuseum.com 

For more information on the event, please contact the event organiser Dom Hyndman at domihy@yahoo.co.uk

Jimmy Cricket birthday fun run plans gather pace 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket birthday fun run plans gather pace

Jimmy Cricket and runners outside the Cock & Magpie pub in WhitworthComedian Jimmy Cricket has visited the start and finish location for the charity fun run which will mark his 70th birthday.

The well-known entertainer went to see the Cock & Magpie pub in Whitworth, where the runners will set off on the morning of 18 October for a 5K race in aid of his preferred charity, the Francis House Children’s Hospice in Manchester.

Belfast-born and Rochdale-based Jimmy will be on hand to wave off the runners and to meet them when they return.

The race is being organised by local race organiser Andy O’Sullivan who has plotted out a 5K course that takes in the breath-taking scenery around Cowm Reservoir – the race will involve two laps of this magnificent beauty spot.

With just four months to go, Jimmy met Andy and also Chris, who is the landlord of the Cock & Magpie on Tonge Lane End. Jimmy then met some runners (above) who are hoping to participate in the event.

Andy said: “It was great for Jimmy to visit the location I’ve chosen for his race. I am just thrilled this event is taking shape and the run will just be a nice way to mark this great man’s contribution to Rochdale, while raising a few quid for such a worthy cause as Francis House.”

Jimmy said: “I am thrilled to be marking my birthday in such a fantastic way. It is amazing what can come out of taking a walk into Healey Dell Nature Reserve and bumping into Andy O’Sullivan!

“But seriously, this idea has been in the pipeline for around a year and I am pleased we are at that point where the event is not too far away.

“Even if you are not a dedicated runner, come along and enjoy a leisurely jog around a course which is stunning. Better still, why not come along as a spectator and support all the runners, as in this way you can still contribute to the event and help us raise lots of money!”

David Ireland, chief executive at Francis House, said: “Jimmy has supported Francis House over many years and helped raise thousands of pounds towards the care we provide to sick children, young people and their families.The form for Jimmy Cricket's 70th birthday fun run

“We’d like to express our grateful thanks to Jimmy, Andy and the team at the Cock and Magpie for organising the fun run. We hope lots of people will take part, enjoy the day and show their support.”

The entry fee to join Jimmy on this fun race is £4 to club runners and £6 to all others. An additional £1 will be charged to entrants who turn up on the day. Prizes will be awarded to all race finishers.

For more information and for a copy of the entry form, please contact Andy O’Sullivan at info@andemsrunners.co.uk

Or you can download the form above right by clicking on it, so it is on its own page, and then printing out (right click and print, or press “Ctrl” and “P”).

Meeting up again with 60s legend Dave Berry 150 150 mhamer

Meeting up again with 60s legend Dave Berry

Jimmy Cricket with 60s icon Dave BerryJimmy Cricket bumped into a 60s music icon before a show in East Yorkshire.

The famous entertainer was preparing for an appearance at the Bridlington Spa Theatre over the last Bank Holiday in May when he was asked to pop into a vintage fair being hosted in the adjacent Queens Hall within the Spa entertainment complex.

Jimmy, 69, said: “I was pleased to do this because it was a great opportunity to generate a bit more interest in my show scheduled for later on in the afternoon.

“So I had an opportunity to perform on the platform at the fair and I even managed to sneak in an odd joke or two!

Jimmy Cricket with a family who went to see his show in Bridlington“And to my astonishment, 60s legend Dave Berry was at the fair! I have bumped into Dave on numerous times over the years and was delighted to see him in Bridlington. He had rented a stall at the fair to sell his line of guitars, which was a shrewd move as the fair attracted some 4,000 people.”

Dave (pictured above right with Jimmy) is a British pop singer and teen idol of the 1960s. His best-remembered songs are Memphis, Tennessee (1963), The Crying Game from 1964 and his 1965 hit Little Things.

Dave is still touring and often participates in national solid gold sixties shows across the UK.

Jimmy then went on to perform his comedy stand-up show in the theatre next door. For the third year running, the event attracted a great family audience.

Above left is Jimmy with a family who went to see the show in Bridlington.