Posts Tagged :

jimmy cricket comedian

Meet the Wooden Hut Club 150 150 mhamer

Meet the Wooden Hut Club
Members of the Wooden Hut Club

Members of the Wooden Hut Club

November saw the latest gathering of the informal showbiz fraternity group that Jimmy Cricket attends, which is lovingly called the “Wooden Hut Club”.

Conveniently for Jimmy, the location where this get-together takes place is in Rochdale. It was felt Rochdale was well placed on the M62 between Manchester/Cheshire and Yorkshire for his showbiz pals to get to. After the first ‘do’ was successfully held at the Royal Toby Hotel restaurant on Manchester Road in Castleton, the club have met there ever since.

This gathering has been meeting on and off for last four years and, as you can see from the photo, there was a large number who attended the last lunch showing it is well supported. This is probably because it is a rare chance for showbiz professionals to come together and catch up with the industry news – and of course reminisce about old times.

Some of the individuals in the photo with Jimmy are: Buzz Hawkins from ‘The Bradshaws’, ‘The Comedians’ producer Johnnie Hamp, impressionist Johnny More, BBC radio producer Steve Garner, comedy script writer Phil Collinge, the wife of former BBC radio comedy producer Mike Craig, Treflyn Jones from Target television and entertainer Eric Devereaux.

Jimmy’s friend Patti Gold celebrates 60th birthday 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy’s friend Patti Gold celebrates 60th birthday
Jimmy, his wife May (right) and good friend Patti

Jimmy, his wife May (right) and good friend Patti

Jimmy Cricket recently attended the 60th birthday of a good friend of his, the former singer Patti Gold.

The bash was hosted at Patti’s local golf club in Wakefield called Higher Lane Golf Club.

Patti and Jimmy go back a long way and although Patti has now left the business, her husband is still heavily involved and is an excellent musical director called Stuart Gold, who used to be the main musical director at the legendary Batley Variety Club and has worked with some of the most famous singers and entertainers in the country.

Patti actually featured in Jimmy’s first television series on ITV of “And There’s More” way back in the mid 1980s as one of the supporting cast members. Alongside Patti was impressionist Rory Bremner. This was Rory’s first break on television before he launched himself on a bigger platform.

Jimmy said: “I really enjoyed myself at Patti’s party and am thrilled I have been able to keep in touch with her for all these years.

“Although Patti left the business a number of years ago to work in IT, interestingly enough she has recently taken a job working in a dance and drama school, so she is re-introducing herself slowly back into the world of arts and entertainment!”

Viva la Espana! 150 150 mhamer

Viva la Espana!
Jimmy with Mike and Val Sheehy

Jimmy with Mike and Val Sheehy

Famous Irish comic Jimmy Cricket appeared at a civic hall in the town of Moraira near Alicante in South East Spain.

The visit was arranged by Mike and Val Sheehy who are local entrepreneurs in the town and also promote visiting entertainers.

They used to run the Le Cabaret venue in the town, but are now concentrating all their efforts around establishing a local ‘sold gold’ 60s radio station for the local ex-pat community. This allows them to also present shows at this local civic hall – and Jimmy was one of the visiting guests.

He stayed in a lovely apartment owned by Mike and Val and enjoyed the two nights he appeared at the theatre in Moraira. Although Jimmy was the headline performer, the show also featured his wife, May Marion, and Mike himself doing a bit of crooning – he is a good performer in his own right.

Jimmy hopes to go back to the town some time in 2012.

Warm welcome at the inn 150 150 mhamer

Warm welcome at the inn

Jimmy with Phil, owner of the Old Bell Inn in Delph, Saddleworth

Jimmy with Phil Whiteman, owner of the Old Bell Inn in Delph, Saddleworth

Jimmy Cricket visited the the Old Bell Inn in Delph, Saddleworth, after an invitation from the Director of the Francis House Children’s Hospice, David Ireland.

The occasion was a “thank-you” meal for the comedian’s efforts in a recent fundraiser for the Hospice, organised at the Coliseum Theatre in Oldham in October.

The show also featured the Krankies and the Swinging Blue Jeans. The total raised from the show was in the region of £6,000 for the charity.

One of the sponsors of the show was the Old Bell Inn which generously supplied a number of bedrooms for the visiting band members of the Swinging Blue Jeans as part of their sponsorship.

Jimmy spoke to the Swinging Blue Jeans after their stay at the inn and they said they were very impressed with the hospitality provided.

Phil and some friends attended the second performance of the show at the Oldham Coliseum and afterwards he mentioned that he had thoroughly enjoyed himself. He is a great supporter of Francis House and recently hosted a wine-tasting evening at the Old Bell Inn to also raise money for the charity.

Jimmy said he enjoyed his meal at the Old Bell Inn and readily recommends the restaurant to anyone passing through the Saddleworth area.

Jimmy goes into panto mode 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy goes into panto mode

Jimmy is appearing in Cinderella in Darlington

Jimmy Cricket has begun rehearsing for his latest pantomime appearance.

The legendary comic is starring as Baron Hardup in Cinderella at Darlington Civic Theatre which runs from Saturday 3 December until Sunday 15 January 2012.

Dancing on Ice and X Factor star Ray Quinn (Prince Charming), Emmerdale’s Deena Payne (Fairy Godmother) and Grease musical actress Emma Stephens (Cinderella) are also appearing in the festive spectacular.

Performances are as follows: Matinees 2pm, evenings 7pm except Sundays, Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve when evening performances will begin at 5.30pm. Prices are £13.50, £19 and £21, with discounts available at some performances.

Jimmy last appeared in the Darlingon theatre’s pantomime 21 years ago when it was also a version of Cinderella. Back in 1990 he played the role of Buttons.

The panto means it will be a very busy time of the year for Jimmy who said: “I am back home at the weekend and when we’re up and running with the actual show, I have every Sunday night and all day Monday off. Not to mention Crimble and New Year’s day!”

Find out more details here

Treading the Comedy Carpet 150 150 mhamer

Treading the Comedy Carpet
The Crickets' grandson, Tristan, points out Jimmy's famous catchphrase "And there's more..."

The Crickets' grandson, Tristan, points out Jimmy's famous catchphrase "And there's more..."

The Comedy Carpet in Blackpool celebrates the work of more than 1,000 comedians and comedy writers – including our very own Jimmy Cricket.

It features jokes, songs and catchphrases dating from the early days of variety to the current day.

Situated in front of Blackpool Tower, the 2,200 square metres of art contains over 160,000 granite letters embedded into concrete. It was created by artist Gordon Young and commissioned by Blackpool Council as part of the multi-million pound regeneration of the sea front.

Mrs Cricket took their grandson Tristan to visit the Comedy Carpet.

“It’s a fantastic idea, a superb piece of public art. But most importantly it recognises the undeniable contribution that comedians have made to Blackpool over the years as they performed in the resort’s much-loved theatres,” says Jimmy.

“My grandson was gently guided to where my name was located in the lengthy roll call of comedians that have been included within the Comedy Carpet.

“Then – and this must have been quite a feat given that this carpet stretches out over quite a huge land mass – he and grandma managed to located my catchphrase – ‘And there’s more…’ which is one of the many sayings and jokes listed on this carpet.

“I have been told by Mrs Cricket that this is quite a comedy hall of fame, as many comedians who have trodden the Blackpool boards have a joke or catchphrase presented on the carpet. I cannot wait to view the carpet myself!”

A taste of vintage tequila! 150 150 mhamer

A taste of vintage tequila!
Jimmy performed with the Vintage Corporation Band

Jimmy performed with the Vintage Corporation Band

Jimmy Cricket teamed up with a Kent-based group on a night of great entertainment in Folkestone.

He appeared with the Vintage Corporation Band at the Hawkinge Community centre in a show which proved a big success in front of a large crowd.

The Band are a great 60s and 70s party and function band, and with nine members they certainly produce a great musical sound.

And they were up for doing a musical ensemble with Jimmy who performed a rendition on his saxophone of Tequila with them.

The Vintage Corporation Band have been putting music and comedy nights on around the Kent region.

In the run-up to working with Jimmy, the band had just appeared at a nearby theatre with Tom O’Connor. They are also working with Roy Walker in the lead-up to the Christmas season.

Jimmy hopes to work with the band in 2012 because the evening was such a great success.