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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!

Watch exclusive interview with JC on Talking Pictures TV! 150 150 mhamer

Watch exclusive interview with JC on Talking Pictures TV!

An exclusive interview JImmy Cricket gave to Talking Pictures TV is being televised on Wednesday 21 June.An exclusive interview which Jimmy Cricket gave to Talking Pictures TV is being televised today (Wednesday 21 June).

The chat with former BBC Radio 1 DJ Mike Read was filmed live at The Plaza in Liverpool.

Jimmy teamed up with several other celebrities, including fellow funnyman Jimmy Tarbuck, at the TV channel Talking Pictures roadshow near Liverpool in October last year.

The TPTV Festival of Film took place at the Plaza Community Cinema in Waterloo on Merseyside.

A member on LinkedIn commented that Saturday’s Daily Mail weekly TV supplement (see below left) highlighted the interview.

It starts at 1.35pm.

An exclusive interview JImmy Cricket gave to Talking Pictures TV is being televised on Wednesday 21 June.

Talking Pictures TV is an independent archive film and television channel.

It is available on Virgin 445, Freesat 306, Freeview or Youview 82 or on the Sky digital satellite platform, channel 328.

Its website says: “Do you remember the thrill and excitement of Saturday Morning Pictures?

“Where heroes and villains and clowns and crooners, invariably in glorious black and white, would entertain you for hours?

“Now those glorious days return, and it’s not just for Saturday mornings.

“It’s 24 hours a day. Every day!”

Go here to find out more about the TV channel.

Also read from this website: Jimmy Tarbuck & Tim Healy among Talking Pics stars

Jimmy’s autobiography available now!

Don’t forget that Jimmy’s official autobiography is 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!

Read more about Jimmy’s life and career here.

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

Autobiography: Get your copy signed at live shows! 150 150 mhamer

Autobiography: Get your copy signed at live shows!

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

Jimmy Cricket will sign copies of his recently published autobiography at his live shows.

The story of Jimmy’s life, including 50 golden years in showbusiness, is now on sale.

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

The book can be ordered from online retailer Amazon here.

Jimmy said he hoped it would “bring back warm memories for older readers”.

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

A follower on social media asked Jimmy how he could get a signed copy of the book.

Jimmy replied: “Many years ago, I had a book called ‘Letters from my Mammy’.

“People who bought it would bring it to my live shows and I would sign it!”

The famous Northern Irish comedian is the headline entertainer on an Easter cruise at present.

His tour dates, which include another season at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool starting in July, are here.

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.

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.

Mary’s Meals

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!

Right royal send-off to end Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tour! 150 150 mhamer

Right royal send-off to end Queen’s Platinum Jubilee tour!

 

My heartfelt thanks, as this Jubilee Royal Show comes to a end, it was wonderful to share the stage with this hugely talented cast of players, Performer/Producer/Leah Bell, Gabs, Annabelle, Tia, Bethan, Glen and David and the very talented IT technician Ashley! #ARightRoyalKneesUp

Watch video below of the musical conclusion to a popular series of royal shows celebrating the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Popular Northern Irish comic Jimmy Cricket headlined A Right Royal Knees Up.

It took place at numerous venues around the country over the past few weeks.

Jimmy posted footage showing the final few minutes of the tour at the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, on bank holiday Friday.

He said: “My heartfelt thanks, as this Jubilee Show comes to a end.

“It was wonderful to share the stage with this hugely talented cast of players, Performer/Producer/Leah Bell, Gabs, Annabelle, Tia, Bethan, Glen and David and the very talented IT technician Ashley! #ARightRoyalKneesUp.”

Celebratory events

The Queen, 96, marked 70 years on the throne on 6 February 2022.

However, as with her previous jubilees, the first week in June hosted a series of high-profile celebratory events.

Other venues for A Right Royal Knees Up included the Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock and the Spa Pavilion Theatre in Felixstowe.

Watch the video which Jimmy posted here.

The production was billed as a “feel-good performance packed with show-stopping scenes”.

It also featured “sing-a-long memories and spectacular footage… of a nostalgic journey through the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth the Second”.

Visit Jimmy’s Tour Dates section here to find out the full dates and details of all his shows.

Also read on this website: Join us for A Right Royal Knees Up!

 

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Jimmy sees double at Carnegie show! 150 150 mhamer

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee: Jimmy sees double at Carnegie show!

My thanks to @CarnegieTheatre and there wonderful staff members, Michael, James, Gillian and Julia for making us feel so welcome, and to my double, Mark pictured here, who could be my mirror image reflection! 😂#ARightRoyalKneesUp 🎭Jimmy Cricket might have thought for a moment he was seeing double at one of his recent Queen’s Platinum Jubilee shows!

The popular funnyman was performing at the latest venue on the tour, part of the royal celebrations.

The Queen, 96, marked 70 years on the throne on 6 February 2022.

However, as with her Golden and Diamond Jubilees, the first week in June hosts a series of high-profile celebratory events.

To help mark the very special occasion, popular entertainer Jimmy has headlined a series of royal-related shows across the country.

Last Friday’s extravaganza was at Carnegie Theatre & Arts Centre in Workington, a coastal town in Cumbria.

And Jimmy posted the photo above right, afterwards.

He said: “My thanks to @CarnegieTheatre and there wonderful staff members, Michael, James, Gillian and Julia for making us feel so welcome.

“And to my double, Mark pictured here, who could be my mirror image reflection! 😂#ARightRoyalKneesUp 🎭.”

Flag-waving finale

Three shows remain on the A Right Royal Knees Up tour, which also features Leah Bell and supporting cast.

The next is this afternoon (Tuesday 31 May, 2pm) at the appropriately named Prince of Wales Theatre in Cannock, Staffordshire.

The Spa Pavilion Theatre in Felixstowe, Suffolk, is the next port of call tomorrow (Wednesday).

And the tour’s final destination is the Pomegranate Theatre in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, this bank holiday Friday.

The production is billed as a “feel-good performance packed with show-stopping scenes”.

It also features “sing-a-long memories and spectacular footage as we take a nostalgic journey through the 70-year reign of Queen Elizabeth the Second”.

“Guaranteed to put you in the party mood, this once-in-a-lifetime performance will get your spirits soaring, your hands clapping and your voices bellowing out as we bring you to our rousing flag-waving finale.

“There is no better way of celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee than by joining us for A RIGHT ROYAL KNEES UP.”

Visit Jimmy’s Tour Dates section here to find out the full dates and details of the tour and other events.

Also read on this website: Join us for A Right Royal Knees Up!

 

Casual chat with a workman led to my first DVD! 150 150 mhamer

Casual chat with a workman led to my first DVD!

Hi folks this months @leponline is a little story about how we got everyone onboard, which created work for a video recording company, while raising funds for a Charity, while producing my live DVD! #keepvarietyalive

The unusual story of how Jimmy Cricket ended up producing his first DVD is told in his latest newspaper column.

Pull Your Seats Forward was created by the famous comedian’s family company, Wellie Boot Productions, more than 10 years ago.

Belfast-born Jimmy produced the DVD in response to the overwhelming public clamour that suggested there was a real demand for a recording of his stand-up entertainment.

It was filmed at the Royal Court Theatre in Bacup, Lancashire, near Jimmy’s adopted home of Rochdale in Greater Manchester.

The DVD is an hour and 10 minutes long.

It includes Jimmy’s favourite routines, a phone call and letter from his mammy and 20 minutes of extras.

In his March column for the Lancashire Post, Jimmy reveals how the DVD came about.

I’d just pulled into the garage of the house in the new housing estate we’d just moved into when one of the workmen who was completing work on one of the other houses approached me.

“You’ve upset somebody up there. haven’t you?”

“I beg your pardon?” I asked him in a puzzled tone.

Leap of faith

“You’ve upset one of the big boys in television….that’s why you’re not on anymore.”

Before I could answer him, he was straight in: “Look, you don’t have to answer me but I just want you to know I enjoyed what you did.”

I mumbled “thank you!” and he headed back to work.

After I’d entered the house, I thought maybe I should have invited this chap in, give him a cup of tea and explain that I hadn’t really upset anybody but television was changing.

The variety shows I performed on were giving way to reality/fly-on-the-wall type programmes which I wasn’t really interested in.

But then I thought if there were more people out there like that workman, how could I get my product out to them?

So, in a gigantic leap of faith, I decided to produce and finance my own DVD.

I called a local theatre – in this case the Royal Court in Bacup.

We fixed a date and I raided the piggy bank and sent them the hire charge of £500.

The next step was to hire a camera crew.

I rang up a gentleman called Paul McGreen who ran a company called Dash Productions.

He said he could do me a deal but it would still cost £2,000 to pay for the crew.

Bar of chocolate

So I had an idea how we could make this work – and help a charitable cause at the same time.

I rang around all my friends and explained that the theatre held 400; if they all bought a ticket for £10, after I’d paid for the cameras I would give the rest to our local charity.

And so, on a sunny evening in September in 2008, we shot our video in front of a full house.

Mrs Cricket put programmes on everybody’s seat with a picture of Springhill Hospice in Rochdale, and a place where they could fill in their name and address if they wanted to get the first copies for half price.

Oh, and she also left them a bar of chocolate to munch on during the interval.

The morning after the show, I turned up at the hospice with a cheque for £2,000 and we had a 90-minute DVD called Pull Your Seats Forward.

As I write this, I’m coming up to 9,000 sales.

Do you know what makes me really proud, folks? The whole family can sit round and watch.

Pull Your Seats Forward can be bought via the Go Shopping page on this website or at one of Jimmy’s live shows (once they resume).

Read the Lancashire Evening Post online here

 

Armed Forces veterans breakfast with Mayor of Rochdale 150 150 mhamer

Armed Forces veterans breakfast with Mayor of Rochdale

Wonderful breakfast this morning with Billy the Mayor, his Secretary Dorothy, at the, “Veterans Breakfast”, sharing the forthcoming event at the Town Hall which is on Remembrance Sunday, 10th November to raise funds for local Charities!

Jimmy Cricket enjoyed breakfast with the Mayor of Rochdale and veterans of the Armed Forces.
The famous comedian attended the weekly event at Rochdale Town Hall in his adopted hometown last Thursday (10 October).
He will be back there next month with his musical, Let’s hear it for the wee man.
The performance takes place at the town hall on Sunday 10 November in aid of the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity appeal.
He tweeted afterwards: “Wonderful breakfast this morning with Billy the Mayor, his Secretary Dorothy, at the, “Veterans Breakfast”, sharing the forthcoming event at the Town Hall which is on Remembrance Sunday, 10th November to raise funds for local Charities!????“
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

The musical is about Northern Ireland’s only recipient of the Victoria Cross, James Magennis.

It tells the courageous story of the submariner 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 (photo above right) to promote the play. Go here to watch the video.

Find out where Jimmy is performing and his other forthcoming shows by viewing all his tour dates on this website.