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frank carson

Jimmy’s plea to fellow funnymen to help save live comedy 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy’s plea to fellow funnymen to help save live comedy

To all professional comedians, join the challenge to post a photo of you in your job. Just a picture, no description. The goal is to flood social media with our profession. Copy the text and post Performing arts #savelivecomedy

Save Live Comedy
Jimmy Cricket has been encouraging his fellow comedians to help save live comedy.
A survey conducted in June 2020 suggested the comedy industry was on the brink of collapse.
It revealed a third of comedy venues believe they will be forced to close within the next six months.
And over 45% of the industry have seriously thought about leaving comedy because of the coronavirus pandemic.
There are claims it runs the risk of being forgotten by emergency government arts funding.
People are being urged to sign an open letter to the UK government.

The Save Comedy Live website says it believes that comedy is art and should be treated as such.

It asks for several things, including that comedy is treated on a par with the rest of the performing arts sector by government and funding bodies.

This includes having the same access to the Cultural Rescue Package.

It also requests a clear timeline for reopening venues without social distancing, taking into account official guidance.

‘Flood social media’

The fear is that if live comedy industry is not supported immediately, the sector will risk disappearing as an art form.

Sign the Open Letter here

Famous Northern Irish funnyman Jimmy tweeted: “To all professional comedians, join the challenge to post a photo of you in your job.

“Just a picture, no description. The goal is to flood social media with our profession. Copy the text and post Performing arts#savelivecomedy.”

Jimmy accompanied the words with the post above right featuring himself, Frank Carson, Duncan Norvelle, Norman Collier and Paul Adams.

The Live Comedy Association said: “British live comedy is in crisis – let’s #SaveLiveComedy!
“1) Sign the open letter to the UK government & arts funders at savelivecomedy.co.uk
“2) Tweet a memorable live comedy experience with the hashtag #SaveLiveComedy.”
British live comedy is in crisis - let’s #SaveLiveComedy!
Jimmy Cricket’s LEP column: My celebrity blunders 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket’s LEP column: My celebrity blunders
Well folks! Have you ever accidently put your foot in it! ???? ???? Here's a fun loving look at a couple of little blunders I had along the way in the world of showbusiness!
Jimmy Cricket reveals in his latest LEP column some blunders he has made in relation to fellow celebrities.
Well folks! Have you ever accidently put your foot in it! ???? ???? Here's a fun loving look at a couple of little blunders I had along the way in the world of showbusiness!
In the 19 August edition of the Lancashire Post newspaper, the Northern Irish entertainer recalls when he failed to recognise two well-known actors.
Jimmy highlighted his article on social media by tweeting: “Well folks! Have you ever accidentally put your foot in it!????????Here’s a fun-loving look at a couple of little blunders I had along the way in the world of showbusiness!????“
He says he had once been talking to the late great Andrew Sachs, who played Manuel in the classic comedy Fawlty Towers.
It was only when somebody shouted in their direction “look, it’s Manuel!” that Jimmy realised.
And he admits: “I’m ashamed to say it didn’t dawn on me.
Ground-swallowing moment
“Of course, I apologised profusely. He, to his eternal credit, let me off the hook by replying ‘why should you recognise me dear fellow when I’m not in my working clothes’.”
Jimmy continues: “My next ground-swallowing moment involved a star from Coronation Street.
“A gentleman called Gerry Kelly hosted an Irish TV chat show and he flew over to Granada Studios in Manchester to record an episode.
“I found myself sitting beside none other than Jim McDonald.
“If you remember, Jim was married to Liz on the street. And, as we were both from Northern Ireland, we had a rare old time chin-wagging.
“Now, for some reason, I’d got it into my head that his first real name was Jim as well as his Corrie Street character. Wrong!
“After a few minutes, he leaned over and said ‘it’s just a character, my real name’s Charlie’.
Jimmy says he himself sometimes got mistaken for another famous Irish comedian – the late Frank Carson – on numerous occasions.
 
Dana, Ken Morley and the late Frank Carson feature in nostalgic Twitter post 150 150 mhamer

Dana, Ken Morley and the late Frank Carson feature in nostalgic Twitter post

One of the photos included Jimmy Cricket and Frank Carson

Jimmy Cricket and the late Frank Carson were among several celebrities featured in a social media post recently.

The message on Twitter included several photographs and said: “When visited Ross’s Court, Belfast, 25 yrs ago, with Frank Carson, Dana, Gerry Anderson, Mary peters and ken Morley (Reg from coronation street).”

Northern Ireland comedy legend Frank Carson passed away in early 2012.

Jimmy Cricket, Dana and the late Frank Carson featured in the Tweet

Miracles R Us – Fr Frankie’s latest book 150 150 mhamer

Miracles R Us – Fr Frankie’s latest book

Fr Frankie Mulgrew, the younger son of famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket, has been discussing his latest book in The Universe, the Catholic national newspaper.

The Roman Catholic priest, who is based in Blackburn, East Lancashire, compiled and edited Miracles R Us: Supernatural Miracles In The Catholic Church.

A summary of the book, published by St Pauls Publishing, says: “Do miracles really happen? Are there miracles in the 21st century just as there were during the life of Jesus?

“In Miracles R Us we discover how God works supernatural miracles in our day and age. Filled with real-life stories of spiritual and physical miracles from well-known priests, Religious and Catholic speakers we discover that life-changing miracles of the soul and physical healings beyond current medical explanation happen, all through the seven Sacraments of the Catholic Church: baptism, confession, Eucharist, confirmation, marriage, holy orders and anointing of the sick.

“This book proves that God’s love and power to transform hearts and lives is as real today as it was in the time of Jesus.”

It includes a contribution from Cardinal Vincent Nichols and all authorship profits will go to support Mary’s Meals, who provide vital meals to some of the world’s poorest children.Frankie Mulgrew, younger son of comedian Jimmy Cricket, kneels in front of the Bishop of Salford at his ordination service

Fr Frankie (right), who was a comedian like his dad before being ordained five years ago, is quoted in the 9 March edition of The Universe saying: “This book is to help encourage, affirm and edify our own faith but also to be passed into the hands of those who may have stopped going to Church, give them reason to believe and reason to know that God loves them, has never given up on them and wants to fill their life with his divine love, mercy and blessings.”

The 16 March edition of The Universe also features Fr Frankie talking about Miracles R Us.

The comic-turned-priest, whose stage name was Frankie Doodle, has previously had a book published about God and humour called Does God LOL? (LOL is internet slang for Laugh Out Loud).

He compiled and edited the book, which includes contributions from famous entertainers Ricky Tomlinson, Tim Vine, Jo Brand, Milton Jones and the late Sir Ken Dodd and Frank Carson.

All proceeds from sales of that book have also gone towards Mary’s Meals.

Buy MIRACLES R US here

Listen to Fr Frankie talking about his latest book here

YouTube comedy clips & a letter from Jimmy Cricket 150 150 mhamer

YouTube comedy clips & a letter from Jimmy Cricket

Jimmy Cricket

Here is a short letter from your favourite entertainer Jimmy Cricket introducing a new sequence of clips produced for the homepage of this website via his YouTube channel.

 Hi folks,

It’s me, Jimmy Cricket, come closer…

Thank you for coming on my website. If you are regular, a double thank you. And if you are a newcomer, a warm welcome.

I hope you enjoying browsing through and finding something of interest for you.

The newest thing I have is this… last year I came in contact with a young man called Dom Hyndman. Dom organised a charity show to send some young people to Lourdes to help wheel-bound and disabled people get around a pilgrimage, and help with their healing and give them spiritual serenity.

Dom is also a brilliant cameraman and works on all sorts of shows, from Coronation Street to the Antiques Roadshow.

He put together a very good feature for my website called The story in pictures, which was all about how I made my breakthrough into television. The next thing he did was last October when I released an album of Christmas songs for the children’s hospice Francis House; he came to the studio and did some nice footage for me.

When we were thinking about the next project to work on, we decided to go for the four series that I’ve done on Central Television in the 1980s – take the first series and concentrate on the guest stars I had on the show.

So for the next nine weeks we will have a guest artist – they range from Jim Bowen and Frank Carson to Dennis Taylor.

I hope you find it interesting and if there’s anything else you think would make the website more interesting, please feel free to let us know.

Enjoy!

Jimmy Cricket, 5 April 2017

Does God laugh out loud? 150 150 mhamer

Does God laugh out loud?

Does God LOL? Compiled by Frankie Mulgrew, son of Jimmy Cricket The comedian-turned-priest younger son of entertainer Jimmy Cricket has had a book published about God and humour.

Frankie Mulgrew, whose stage name was Frankie Doodle, compiled and edited Does God LOL? (LOL is internet slang for Laugh Out Loud), which went on sale recently.

Fr Frankie Mulgrew leaves church after saying his first Mass as a Catholic priest

Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson, Tim Vine, Jo Brand, Milton Jones and the late Frank Carson are among the famous showbiz names to have contributed to the book, which is priced at £7.99 (and is available at all good bookshops and websites, including Amazon).

The foreword was written by top theologian Tom Wright and there are cartoons from Dave Walker, Simone Lia, Mike Kazybrid and Robert Duncan.

All proceeds from sales of the book will go towards the charity Mary’s Meals, an organisation which supports school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Fr Frankie (above right), who was ordained a Roman Catholic priest at Salford Cathedral last month, dedicated the book to his dad – “for introducing me to one of God’s greatest gifts” – when he celebrated his first Mass, and presented him with a special copy.

Does God LOL? develops a theme around whether the Almighty has a sense of humour, with an impressive array of well-known comedians, actors and performers – including Jimmy Cricket as well of course – all giving it some serious thought.

The book is published by Darton, Longman & Todd.

* Does God LOL? is clearly in demand: The popular Amazon website reported on 4 August that it had “only nine [copies] left in stock (more on the way)”, though there appears to be good availability again now (as of 11 August) – and it is currently available at just £5.99.

Memorial concert to Frank Carson 150 150 mhamer

Memorial concert to Frank Carson

Jimmy Cricket is to feature in a memorial concert to the late, great Northern Ireland comedy legend Frank Carson.

Frank sadly passed away at the start of 2012 and the fitting tribute will be held at the Grand Opera House in Belfast on Thursday 28 February, just over a year after his death. Frank Carson

The hosts for the charity gala will be James Nesbitt, Patrick Kielty, Lenny Henry and Gloria Hunniford.

Entertainer Jimmy, who was also born in Northern Ireland, will pay his own personal tribute alongside a cast which includes Roy Walker, Dana, Dennis Taylor, Barry McGuigan, Kiki Dee, Pat Jennings and Dame Mary Peters to name just a few of the celebrated personalities who will take part in this gala evening.

Frank Carson’s family had always planned to hold a concert to commemorate Frank’s life and have asked producer Ian Dougan to put this event together.

Proceeds from the show will benefit two of Frank’s favourite charities – the Integrated Education Fund and CLIC Sargent’s Northern Ireland Homes from Home Appeal.

Jimmy says: “I am honoured to have been asked to participate in this show. I expect the event to be a tremendous celebration of Frank’s life, remembering his outstanding contribution to the world of entertainment.”