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Ivy Leaf Club

A pleasure working for showbiz legend & friend 150 150 mhamer

A pleasure working for showbiz legend & friend

Always a pleasure working for showbiz Legend and friend, Mr Johnny Manns, (in conjunction with Barbara Lindsey), alongside my other friend and musical arranger David Carter, with fellow pro’s Con and Dec, “The Bachelors” tonight at the Ivy Leaf Club!

Jimmy Cricket worked again recently with someone he describes as a “showbiz legend”.

The Northern Irish comedian was performing on a show at the Ivy Leaf Club in Whittlesey, Peterborough on Friday 19 October, which was organised by Johnny Mans and his production team in association with Barbara Lindsey.

Jimmy, 73, posted on social media: “Always a pleasure working for showbiz Legend and friend, Mr Johnny Mans, (in conjunction with Barbara Lindsey), alongside my other friend and musical arranger David Carter, with fellow pros Con and Dec, “The Bachelors” tonight at the Ivy Leaf Club!”

Johnny is the third generation of a showbiz family with his grandfather being a Yorkshire comedian and his grandmother a dancer with the Tiller Girls, a popular dance troupe famous for their high-kicking routines and who once counted former House Of Commons Speaker Baroness Boothroyd as a member.

His mother also became a Tiller Girl, as well as being a pantomime producer and a dance school teacher. Johnny’s six sisters were professional dancers, one of them touring with Arthur Lucan (Old Mother Riley) and another in Kirby’s Flying Ballet.

Johnny performed in his mother’s pantomime productions from the age of eight and after several years he developed his own comedy act and became one of the famous Carroll Levis discoveries, appearing on television from the Aston Studios in Birmingham.

Over the years Johnny appeared in theatres with star names of that era, including the famous American comedy duo The Bernard Brothers.

He also worked with Derek Roy, Jimmy Young, Marty Wilde, Ronnie Hilton and for a while joined the holiday camp world, first as a Redcoat and then a short spell as a Bluecoat, becoming an entertainment manager at the age of just 21.

The world of clubland also beckoned and he performed throughout the UK. After five summer seasons in Jersey in various productions, he eventually turned his hand to producing his own shows, being an agent and manager and also a concert promoter.

Since the early 1980s, he has been a prominent name in the entertainment world, having managed major stars such as Sir Norman Wisdom, Anne Shelton, Max Bygraves, Danny La Rue, Nicholas Parsons, Jon Pertwee and many other celebrities.

He has also produced and promoted shows for big names such as Des O’Connor, Cilla Black, The Platters, Bob Monkhouse, Val Doonican, Suzi Quatro, Little & Large, Tom O’Connor, John Inman and Dame Vera Lynn.

In 2009 he took over Encore magazine, printed every two months for the entertainment industry.

Charity is also a major part of Johnny’s life and over the past 40 years he has been involved with many fundraising organisations, including the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund (now the Royal Variety Charity), the Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation and the British Heart Foundation.

Johnny, who is also a family man, has produced shows at Buckingham Palace in the company of several members of the Royal Family.

Norman Wisdom tribute act is part of charity gala 150 150 mhamer

Norman Wisdom tribute act is part of charity gala

Jimmy Cricket has been invited to take part in a fundraiser in May with a distinctive Norman Wisdom feel.TV entertainer Jimmy Cricket has been invited to take part in a fundraiser in May with a distinctive Norman Wisdom feel.

This is because the charity gala on Saturday 6 May is being organised by Barbara Lindsay – who was legendary comedian Sir Norman Wisdom’s PA – and produced and presented by the impresario Johnny Mans – Norman’s agent for many years.

The show will even feature an impersonator of the man himself as Glenn M Ford, who performs as a tribute to Norman Wisdom, will be part of the show’s line-up.

This event is being organised by Barbara to raise funds for churches in and around the town of Whittlesey within the Cambridgeshire Fens.

With the Ivy Leaf Club chosen as the venue, the evening’s proceedings which Johnny Mans has put together, will not just include himself as compere and Glenn Ford as Norman, alongside Jimmy, it also features 60s star Jess  Conrad, illusionist Daniel Dean and a host of other entertainment surprises.

Jimmy, 71, said: “I am looking forward to teaming up once more with Johnny Mans, whom I have known for a long time, and am very pleased to be lending my support to this special event.”