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Can’t find October dates? Come closer! 150 150 mhamer

Can’t find October dates? Come closer!

Jimmy Cricket and Brotherhood of Man

Struggling to find out what your favourite comedian Jimmy Cricket is up to during October?

Well, come closer!

Technical problems mean that the popular events calendar feature on this website has unexpectedly stopped working – unlike Jimmy who has another busy month ahead.

So please accept our apologies and while we try to rectify the problem, here is Jimmy’s schedule in October – events subject to change, of course.

 

Mon 1st

Solihull Arts Centre at 1.30pm

 

Tue 2nd

Sheffield City Hall (Jimmy and Mick)

 

Wed 3rd

Thameside Theatre, Essex (tenner show)

 

Thu 4th

Laugh Inn, Chester (Jimmy & Mick)

 

Fri 5th

Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton

 

Sat 6th

Blackfriars Arts Centre, Boston (music and Mayhem)

 

Thu 11th

St Peter’s, Hazel Grove

 

Fri 12th

St Catherine’s, Didsbury

Sat 13th

Walmer Bridge Village Hall

 

Sun 14th

Bucknall Pentecostal Church, Stoke-on-Trent

 

Thu 25th

Laughing Crow Comedy Club, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow

 

Fri 26th

Sherburn WMC, Durham

 

Sat 27th

Acorn Theatre, Worksop

 

Sun 28th

Thwaites Empire Anniversary Show, Blackburn

 

Tue 30th

Victoria Hall, Southborough, Surrey

 

Wed 31st

Victoria Hall, Southborough
‘Prodigal son’ going back home… 150 150 mhamer

‘Prodigal son’ going back home…

Belly Laughs poster

Belfast-born Jimmy Cricket is returning to his home city – but not for good.

The comedian, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, is appearing at the inaugural Belfast International Comedy Festival, Belly Laughs, which takes place between Sundays 30 September and 7 October.

Jimmy is opening the festival, which will comprise of 30 performances at 15 venues across the citywith a long-awaited performance at The Black Box.  

In addition to the stand-up comedy, the festival strives to challenge, inspire and inform through poetry, magic, cabaret, workshops, seminars, club nights, book readings and events for children.

“It is obviously a tremendous honour for me to be returning home to Belfast to appear in this new comedy festival,” says Jimmy.

“I am really thrilled to be asked. I hope it will be a fantastic success and an annual fixture for a city which is growing in confidence and artistic prosperity.”

More details about Jimmy’s show – and some lavish praise for the “prodigal son” – can be found below.

Jimmy Cricket returning to Belfast to start the comedy festival, Belly Laughs

Over 3,000 and still counting 150 150 mhamer

Over 3,000 and still counting

Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket is celebrating another milestone with sales of his first live DVD.

Jimmy Cricket Live - Pull Your Seats Forward

More than 3,000 copies of “Jimmy Cricket Live – Pull Your Seats Forward” have now been sold.

The DVD was created by Jimmy’s small company, Wellie Boot Productions, a couple of 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 and includes Jimmy’s favourite routines, a phone call and letter from his mammy, his famous “Leaving Home” poem, his sentimental ballad called “I’m Dreaming of a Far off Land” and 20 minutes of extras.

Jimmy said he was especially pleased about reaching 3,000 based on the fact that the DVD is not available in retail outlets: it can only be bought via the Go Shopping page on this website (where you can purchase all Jimmy’s merchandise) or at one of his live performances.

“I am thrilled I have reached this milestone after such a short selling period,” said Jimmy. “It proves I am filling a gap in the market.

“To reach 3,000 sales is truly a significant achievement to celebrate. This DVD is something I am very proud of.

“I have also had good feedback from those who have purchased it. This always pleases me, as I set out with an aim to create a high-quality comedy product which was suitable for all the family.

“If you have not got your copy, you still have every chance to as I have now just placed an order for another 1,000 copies to replenish my stocks!”

Getting into the spirit for London 2012 150 150 mhamer

Getting into the spirit for London 2012

The grand finale featured all the show's participants who were representing all the many dance schools

The grand finale featured all the show's participants who were representing the many dance schools

Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket got into the Olympic spirit when he compered a dance spectacular celebrating the forthcoming London Games.

The famous funnyman was asked to front up the special show which marked the Olympic Torch coming to Southport ahead of London 2012.

Programme front page for the Olympic dance event

Programme front page

It was staged at the Southport Theatre and organised by the Liverpool-based Allied Dancing Association Limited.

Former Olympic gold medallist Dame Mary Elizabeth Peters was a special guest at the event.

The 19 dance schools which took part in the show were: Garswood School of Dance, Vibe Stage Academy, The Stage School, Harlequin Dance Club, Formby School of Dance, Dance Flava, Claire Knight School of Dance, Martins Dance Centre, Excelsior School of Dance, Phoenix School of Dance, Dance Depot, Liverpool Theatre School, Felicia Burns School of Dance, Chriska Stage School, Marshside School of Dance, Southport School of Dance, Crown Dance School, Jade School of Dance and Dance Passion.

Jimmy Cricket on stage

Jimmy on stage

The general secretary of Allied Dancing Association, Carol Parry, invited Jimmy to host the show. They first met last Christmas during Jimmy’s pantomime season at the Civic Theatre in Darlington. Carol’s daughter, Melissa, featured in the Southport Theatre show as a dancer.

Jimmy says: “This was a spectacular show and my hats off to all the organisers of this event for all the hard work they put into it.

“Special praise to one of the principal organisers, Carol Parry, as she was a real driving force behind the show and she worked tirelessly to ensure it was a huge success!”

Photos for this story were taken by Alan at Photos2U

Jimmy meets campaigning grocer 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy meets campaigning grocer

Jimmy Cricket and Robin Blair with some of the plants Robin donated to Darlington Civic Theatre

Greengrocer Robin Blair shows Jimmy Cricket some of the plants he donated to Darlington Civic Theatre

Jimmy Cricket met a campaigning greengrocer on a recent visit to Darlington where he will be appearing in a stand-up show.

The famous Irish comedian had a walk around the town and chatted to local celebrity Robin Blair, who was recently awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list.

Robin has donated plants to brighten up the Conservatory Bar plaza at the Darlington Civic Theatre and also regularly provides baskets of fruit in the dressing rooms for visiting entertainers.Jimmy and Robin have a chat during a walk around Darlington

The 67-year-old, who has been a grocer for more than 50 years, received the British Empire Medal for his services to the community of Darlington.

Over the years, he has campaigned to keep markets alive and against too many supermarkets taking away their trade.

Robin, who joined his father John Joseph’s stall officially at the age of 15 but had helped out on it since he was seven, said one of the highlights of his job was putting free fruit baskets in the dressing rooms and receiving messages of thanks – including from Ken Dodd.

Jimmy Cricket is returning to the Civic Theatre in Darlington just months after appearing on the same stage as Baron Hardup in a pantomime version of Cinderella.

This time, he will be doing his usual stand-up and is teaming up with fellow comedy legend Mick Miller.

In addition to the Darlington appearance on Wednesday 11 July, the Jimmy and Mick Show tour also includes Preston, Chester, Sheffield, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Remembering a legend 150 150 mhamer

Remembering a legend

Fr Jimmy and Frankie Mulgrew, Jimmy Cricket's son

Fr Jimmy and Frankie Mulgrew, who is training to become a Catholic priest

Jimmy Cricket paid his respects to an inspirational priest on a recent visit to Liverpool.

The Irish comedian was appearing at this year’s Northern Catholic Conference (NCC), which is an annual fixture in Liverpool Hope University’s calendar.

He not only attended the social evening (which is traditionally scheduled for the middle evening of the conference), but he also participated in a special commemoration service to mark the outstanding life of the late Fr Jimmy Collins.

Canon Collins, who was parish priest of St Joseph the Worker in Kirkby for 30 years, died in April aged 94 – just three months short of the 70th anniversary of his priestly ordination. He was known to many as “Fr Jimmy” and “priest of the people”.

His funeral Mass took place on Tuesday 1 May, the Feast of St Joseph the Worker, when a congregation of 2,000 filled Liverpool’s Metropolitan Cathedral of Christ the King.

The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Patrick Kelly, together with Auxiliary Bishop Tom Williams, retired Auxiliary Bishop Vincent Malone and 82 concelebrating priests from across the Liverpool Archdiocese and beyond.

“Fr Jimmy was a magnificent example of a man who lived life to the full,” says Jimmy Cricket. “He touched the lives of so many people. He has legendary status within his hometown of Liverpool.”

Jimmy’s son, Frankie, who is training to be a Roman Catholic priest and will soon be ordained a deacon, was one of the original members of the group that launched the Northern Catholic Conference a few years ago.

Since that first event, which was held at the Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool,the NCC has continued to grow since Hope University became its regular venue.

Jimmy Cricket with all the restaurant staff at Liverpool Hope University (a big thank-you to Helen Davis for this photo)

Jimmy with all the restaurant staff at Liverpool Hope University (thanks to Helen Davis for this photo)

‘Promising a night of belly laughs’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Promising a night of belly laughs’

The feature in the North Wales Daily Post by freelance journalist Samuel Evans

The North Wales Daily Post feature by journalist Samuel Evans

A “journey back across the years” awaits Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket on 8 June.

The famous funnyman is appearing at Towyn’s Morton Arms in North Wales next Friday in a show organised by local entertainment entrepreneur Darren Howells.

To mark the event, a feature has been written in the North Wales Daily Post by freelance journalist Samuel Evans.

The story begins…

Jimmy Cricket, renowned for his funny hat, his wellies on the wrong feet and of course letters from his Mammy, is packing his bags ready for a trip to North Wales this summer and a journey back across the years.

“The times might have changed since the 80s but I have embraced everything into my act,” he said. “What you get now is the Jimmy Cricket take on things, and of course I’ll have a letter from my Mammy.”

Full of his favourite material, Jimmy is promising a night of belly laughs when he takes the mic at Towyn’s Morton Arms in June.

Read the full article here