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Dick Whittington

Roy Hudd: ‘Walking encyclopedia of British Music Hall’ 150 150 mhamer

Roy Hudd: ‘Walking encyclopedia of British Music Hall’

So sad to hear of the passing of my friend who did it all, comedian/actor/writer, Roy Hudd s a walking encyclopaedia of the British Music Hall, he will be so missed by everyone in the entertainment business! My thoughts and prayers are with Debbie and his family at this time!

Jimmy Cricket says the late Roy Hudd OBE will be missed by everybody in the showbusiness world.

Roy, an actor, radio host, author and authority on the history of music hall entertainment, died earlier this week at the age of 83 after a short illness.

He hosted BBC Radio 2’s The News Huddlines for 26 years and also starred in Coronation Street.

Roy died on Sunday 15 March, with his wife Debbie at his side.

The all-round entertainer appeared in Corrie as Archie Shuttleworth on and off between 2002 and 2010.

Fellow funnyman Jimmy said on social media: “So sad to hear of the passing of my friend who did it all.

He will be so missed

“Comedian/actor/writer, Roy was a walking encyclopedia of the British Music Hall.

“He will be so missed by everyone in the entertainment business.

“My thoughts and prayers are with Debbie and his family at this time.”

Roy, who was born in Croydon, Surrey, earned praise for his roles in Dennis Potter’s Lipstick on your Collar and Karaoke in the 1990s.

He also starred in acclaimed crime drama Ashes to Ashes.

Five years ago, he played his first pantomime dame in Dick Whittington and His Cat at the then newly renovated Wilton’s Music Hall in London.

Other TV credits include Broadchurch, Benidorm and Casualty.

Reunion with panto co-star in Clacton-on-Sea 150 150 mhamer

Reunion with panto co-star in Clacton-on-Sea

This July, I will be reunited with legend @jimmy__cricket since we performed in pantomime together a couple of years ago @wctclacton

Jimmy Cricket will be teaming up again this summer with one of his former Pantomime co-stars.

The famous Northern Irish entertainer performed alongside Danny Lee Grew in Dick Whittington at the Gracie Fields Theatre in Rochdale during the 2017-18 pantomime season.

The panto also featured The Chase’s Mark Labbett (also known as The Beast).


Tickets for the show in July can be found here.

 

 

‘I was thrilled to perform in panto in Rochdale’ 150 150 mhamer

‘I was thrilled to perform in panto in Rochdale’

Jimmy Cricket tweeted he was thrilled in appear in a pantomime in his adopted hometown of Rochdale

Jimmy Cricket said he was thrilled in appear in a pantomime in his adopted home town of Rochdale.

Famous Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy played Professor Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington in both Ellesmere Port and in Rochdale.

Ellesmere Port Civic Centre staged the show until 20 December and Rochdale’s Gracie Fields Theatre from 22-31 December.

The panto also featured The Chase’s Mark Labbett (known as The Beast), who played King Rat.

Jimmy tweeted: “What a thrill it was to play panto in my adopted home town of Rochdale, at the Gracie Fields Theatre. I ‘d like to thank all my friends and neighbours for supporting their local Theatre.”

The 72-year-old comedian also posted his thanks to everyone involved in the production of the panto, including his “wonderful” fellow cast members.

Jimmy Cricket tweeted his thanks to everyone involved in the panto

A pleasant surprise ahead of Christmas pantomime 150 150 mhamer

A pleasant surprise ahead of Christmas pantomime

 

Jimmy Cricket's December column in the Preston-based Lancashire Post

Jimmy Cricket has revealed his joyful amazement when he discovered the identity of one of his fellow pantomime performers.

The well-known Northern Irish entertainer is currently playing Professor Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington, which is running at the Gracie Fields Theatre until New Year’s Eve in Rochdale where he lives.

The panto also features The Chase’s Mark Labbett (also known as The Beast), who plays King Rat.

Jimmy, 72, says in his December column in the Preston-based Lancashire Post that over the years he has played a lot of shows at a small theatre called the West Cliff in Clacton-on-Sea in Essex.

“Every now and then, when I would come round to the front of house after the show to say goodnight, there would be a lady called Chrissie Grew with her two sons,” he recalls.

“As the years went by, Chrissie would keep in touch telling me about one of her boys – Danny – who developed a ‘magic act’.

“She would tell me about him taking his first tentative steps into the world of show business. Then her emails would get more exciting as more and more bookings would come in.

“Fast forward to a few months ago and I sign up to play panto in my adopted town of Rochdale this Christmas.

“I arrive to do the publicity launch and guess who’s playing Dick Whittington? You’re absolutely right! Danny! Yes, all those times his mum, Chrissie, took him to see stage shows planted seeds of a flower that has now blossomed.”

Dick Whittington panto details

Jimmy Cricket praises sets for Christmas pantos 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket praises sets for Christmas pantos

Dick WhittingtonJimmy Cricket has praised the sets for the pantos he is appearing in over the festive season.

Famous Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy plays Professor Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington, which opens in his adopted hometown of Rochdale on Friday (22 December).

Ellesmere Port Civic Centre staged the show until Wednesday and Rochdale’s Gracie Fields Theatre will now host it up to New Year’s Eve (22-31 December).

The panto also features The Chase’s Mark Labbett (also known as The Beast), who plays King Rat.

Jimmy tweeted that the sets were “some of the best I have worked with over the years!”.

Dick Whittington panto details