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Keith Harris: ‘Great showman – we salute you’ 150 150 mhamer

Keith Harris: ‘Great showman – we salute you’

Jimmy Cricket appeared on Keith Harris’s holiday laughter show (with Orville and Cuddles) at the Royal Opera House in the summer of 1982

Jimmy Cricket has been paying tribute in his latest newspaper column to ventriloquist Keith Harris, who died last month.

Keith, who, with his puppet duck Orville, became a regular feature of Saturday night TV in the 1980s, was 67.

He entertained generations of children with his sidekick Orville, a bright green duck who wore a nappy and spoke in a high-pitched voice but couldn’t fly. He also gave life to the popular puppet Cuddles the monkey, whose catchphrase was ‘I hate that duck!’

In addition to fronting The Keith Harris Show on BBC One, he (and Orville) gave private performances at birthday parties for Prince William and his brother Harry, at the request of Diana, Princess of Wales.

His 1982 single, Orville’s Song, was a top five hit, selling more than 400,000 copies.

In his May column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening News, Jimmy says: “Most ventriloquists that are successful discover one dummy that tickles people’s funny bone, but Keith was blessed with two.

“In 1983, holidaymakers were still visiting our summer resorts en masse and Keith’s show was a sellout from start to finish.

“Keith Harris – you weren’t just a superb ventriloquist, you were a great showman and producer.

“We salute you.”

Daughter Katie wins coveted playwriting prize 150 150 mhamer

Daughter Katie wins coveted playwriting prize

The Stage newspaper reported on Katie Mulgrew's success

Famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket has expressed his immense pride after daughter Katie won a prestigious playwriting competition.

The Rochdale Observer reported on Katie Mulgrew's success

Katie Mulgrew, 30, was the winner of the first ever Liverpool Hope University playwriting prize, with her work entitled Omnibus, which follows a group of friends following a soap opera.

Not only did she earn herself £10,000 in the process, but she now has the opportunity to see the play produced by the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool, one of the partners for the competition along with the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

She was the only female comic among the 10 finalists.

Katie told The Stage newspaper: “I entered the Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize because some of my heroes are on the judging panel, and I would adore the opportunity to work with such a beautiful theatre, positively soaked in history and talent.”

Her play was shortlisted at the start of the year as part of a group of 10 plays that went to a judging panel consisting of:

–         Comedienne Kathy Burke

–         Screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce

–          Playwright, director and visiting professor at Liverpool Hope University John Godber

–          Playwriter & arts journalist  Paul Allen

–          Chief executive of the Royal Court Theatre Kevin Fearon

–          Principal Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at Liverpool Hope University‌ Dr John Bennett

–          Liverpool Echo arts editor Catherine Jones

Jimmy said: “I am really thrilled for Katie and am incredibly proud of this tremendous achievement.”

The Rochdale Observer reported on Katie Mulgrew's success

‘Man in wellies & battered hat saves the day’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Man in wellies & battered hat saves the day’

Jimmy Cricket's latest column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket has been reminiscing about the era of the comedy song and how he hopes he has helped keep it alive.

In his latest column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post, the famous entertainer recalls “the many comedy and novelty songs that used to permeate the airwaves in the 50s and 60s”.

He adds: “Commercial radio stations all have playlists now. This means they only play songs that appeal to younger audiences , which companies who advertise with them deem to be possible customers. That’s how the commercial radio stations make their money.

Jimmy Cricket's Light & Shade

“However, you can still hear comedy and novelty songs on BBC radio stations, especially on their request shows.

“However, fear not dear readers.

“Just when you thought the comedy song was a footnote in the history of popular music, along comes the man in the wellies and the battered hat to save the day!

“Yes, my new CD called Light & Shade contains gems like ‘my budgie’s been tweeting for years’ and ‘I got blotto when I thought I’d won the lotto’.”

Light & Shade was officially released on 1 February and is available for £6 at www.jimmycricketshop.co.uk and at Jimmy’s live shows.

In the inside sleeve, Jimmy talks about the history behind the CD, which features a mixture of serious and comedy songs.

Jimmy’s Christmas card features Beckham & co 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy’s Christmas card features Beckham & co

Jimmy Cricket’s 2014 Christmas card features a sketch which took place during this year’s Comic Relief event.

Jimmy Cricket's Christmas card features the Only Fools and Horses’ sketch staring regular cast members David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, plus special Comic Relief guest David Beckham

The card recalls the Only Fools and Horses charity scene starring regular cast members David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, plus former England and Manchester United footballer David Beckham.

Famous entertainer Jimmy is included on the card as if he is part of the get-together, and even has the chance to reference his ever-present Mammy!

The Northern Irish comedian has traditionally created his own customised Christmas card based on a topical photo that has represented in some way an event from the previous 12 months.

In 2012 he picked a picture of Usain Bolt and Mo Farah, which was one of the iconic images from the London Olympics.

And last year it was a photo associated with the theft of his concrete wellies, which was widely covered in the media.

Jimmy said: “Hopefully the recipients of this year’s Christmas card will also have a chuckle at the card!”

Oh I do like to sing along the prom, prom, prom 150 150 mhamer

Oh I do like to sing along the prom, prom, prom

Jimmy Cricket in Bridlington

Jimmy Cricket did an unscheduled performance on the promenade in Bridlington this summer.

Over the August Bank Holiday weekend, the famous entertainer brought his stand-up comedy show to the Spa Bridlington theatre at the East Yorkshire resort.

As Jimmy was about to release his new comedy, I was bit by Luis Suarez, he decided to do some promotion of the song during the afternoon before his show began later that day.

So the Spa management arranged for him to have a pitch on the promenade outside their complex where Jimmy could belt out his new novelty song for those in the vicinity.

Many passers-by were intrigued by what was going on. John – pictured above with Jimmy – was one of those people and his friend, Richard, posted the photo above on Twitter, saying John could not stop mentioning it at work the next day!

The outdoor performance went well for Jimmy and later that day he also had a good crowd turning up to see his comedy show at the theatre – some who maybe came after their Sunday afternoon peaceful stroll along Bridlington Prom had been interrupted by a well-known Northern Irishman!

I was bit by Luis Suarez is based on the Uruguay and former Liverpool striker who was banned for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup in Brazil this summer.

To watch the video of the song, visit Jimmy’s video channel at YouTube here.

And you can pre-order  I was bit by Luis Suarez at iTunes.

For all the latest updates on the song from Jimmy, go to his Twitter page.

Suarez song goes global 150 150 mhamer

Suarez song goes global

I was bit by Luis Suarez is a song by Jimmy Cricket

Jimmy Cricket’s new song, I was bit by Luis Suarez, has gone worldwide since its release over all digital outlets a week ago.

In addition to being available at  iTunes, Amazon and Tesco, it has even been spotted on a Taiwanese online music store!

Jimmy Cricket's I was bit by Luis Suarez

And media coverage of the song,  which is based on the Uruguay and former Liverpool striker who was banned for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup in Brazil this summer, has been far and wide too.

As well as being featured in the Daily Mirror and in its sister publication, the Irish Mirror, Jimmy’s tune has made it to Africa and to the United States of America.

For anyone interested in an actual CD copy of the song, it can be purchased for £2.50 by ringing the record label Rolling Tear who are the distributors. They can be contacted on 07931 528435.

And there’s more – the B side for the single is a karaoke singalong version of the song!

Jimmy said he was thrilled about the response so far, adding: “I have just been blown away with the interest that has been generated by this comedy song.

“I thought it was such a huge topic during this year’s Brazil World Cup that I just had to have a go at writing a funny take on the story. I am thrilled it has created a bit of a stir and the global attention is something I did not really expect at all!”

To watch the video of the song, visit Jimmy’s video channel at YouTube here.

And you can pre-order  I was bit by Luis Suarez at iTunes.

For all the latest updates on the song from Jimmy, go to his Twitter page.

I was bit by Luis Suarez – see video trailer 150 150 mhamer

I was bit by Luis Suarez – see video trailer

The Spenborough Guardian front page previewing the article on Jimmy Cricket

The most controversial incident at this summer’s 2014 World Cup in Brazil is the subject of Jimmy Cricket’s latest comedy song.

I was bit by Luis Suarez is based on the Uruguayan and former Liverpool striker who was banned for four months for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the group match between the two national sides in June.

Jimmy Cricket's song is about Uruguay footballer Luis Suarez

Jimmy’s song is about Uruguay footballer Luis Suarez

Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy said: “It inspired me to write one of my unique and colourful comedy songs about Luis Suarez and his habit of using this unusual tactic on the field of play.”

The idea of the song was picked up by a specialist comedy record label that has just been created called Rolling Tear. The company is based near Dewsbury in West Yorkshire.

Rolling Tear arranged for Jimmy’s track to be recorded and also organised for an accompanying music video to be filmed.

During the filming, which took place at the Hartshead Social Club in Liversedge, Kirklees, the local newspaper sent a photographer to gatecrash the video shoot.

The Spenborough Guardian then featured Jimmy’s filming day in one of their editions.

The article on Jimmy Cricket's song about Luis Suarez appeared in the Spenborough GuardianThe article, published earlier this month, said: “The video follows the comic who, back from a holiday in Uruguay, regales Rob the landlord with a tale of how he got on the wrong-side of the hot-headed Barcelona star [Suarez joined Barcelona from Liverpool this summer].

“The comic said: ‘It is a tale of espionage in South America!

“‘I have a friend who runs Loom Studio in Birstall, Leeds– they were telling me they wanted me to do a comedy song.

“‘I had been watching the biting incident at the World Cup, so I decided to make one about that.’

“The song’s chorus goes: ‘I was bit by Luis Suarez/And it wasn’t just a peck/When I was bit by Luis Suarez/I got it in the neck.’

“The video features terrace-style chanting and some pub regulars waving maracas.”

The song with video is officially released on Tuesday 26 August and will be available from all major digital outlets.

For a sneak preview, visit Jimmy’s video channel at YouTube here.

And you can pre-order the song at iTunes here.

For all the latest updates on the song from Jimmy, go to his Twitter page.

Thanks to photographer Jake O for the photos which appeared in the Spenborough Guardian.