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jimmy cricket

‘Legend series continues with the one and only Jimmy Cricket’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Legend series continues with the one and only Jimmy Cricket’

Jimmy Cricket performs in Cheshire at the weekend as part of a comedy legend series.

Jimmy Cricket performs in Cheshire at the weekend as part of a comedy legend series.

The Northern Ireland entertainer appears at the Whitby Sports and Social Club in Ellesmere Port.

Sunday’s show (29 June) – billed as An Afternoon with Jimmy Cricket – begins at 2.30pm. Doors open at 1.30.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit this webpage.

Jimmy posted on social media: “Hi folks, this coming Sunday afternoon I’ll be on stage doing my act and chatting with my friend Bobby Murdock and doing a meet and greet.

“Why not drop in, you will be warmly welcomed!”

A company called Who Dares Grins are organising the event.

The website looking after the booking process says: “Our comedy legend series continues with the one and only Jimmy Cricket.

“We have him here for an afternoon of fun and laughter on Sunday 29th June at The Whitby Club in Ellesmere Port.

“Jimmy Cricket’s act is a unique blend of observational comedy, storytelling, and musical performance, often featuring self-deprecating humor and a focus on everyday life and the human condition, all delivered with a charming and engaging stage presence.

“TV credits include Bullseye, the Royal Variety Show and The Krankies Klub.

“Jimmy has toured with The Osmonds, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Frank Carson and many more.”

Also read from this website: Tickets are selling fast for big birthday bash

Lytham show features a comedian, a priest and ‘Elvis’ 150 150 mhamer

Lytham show features a comedian, a priest and ‘Elvis’

Hi folks what a great night at the #StarofTheSea Parish Centre in Lytham with my great friends, organisers, Sharon and Mia and Stef alongside #CannonFrPeter with Elvis impersonator/compere Jim Nicholas and coming out of comedy retirement for the evening, my son, Fr Frankie Mulgrew

Jimmy Cricket teamed up with his son, comedian-turned-priest Fr Frankie Mulgrew, and “Elvis” for a show by the seaside.

The popular entertainer was performing at the parish centre of Our Lady Star of the Sea in Lytham St Annes, Lancashire.

He said on social media after Saturday’s (14 June) event: “Hi folks! Great night in Lytham, with organisers Sharon and Stef and Mia with my great friend Elvis impersonator/compere Jim Nicholas and sharing the stage with my son Fr Frankie Mulgrew who came out of comedy retirement for the night! 😂🎭.”

A reminder that Jimmy’s official autobiography is still on sale.
Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian tells the heart-warming story of Jimmy’s illustrious life and 50-year career.

The paperback costs £10 and can be bought at online retailer Amazon here, also being available in eBook and audio formats.

Signed copies (£13.99 including postage and packing) can be purchased on this website here.

It is also available at Jimmy’s live gigs for £10 where he will sign it.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities.

The Jimmy Cricket Story is the famous comedian's official autobiography

 

Tickets are selling fast for big birthday bash 150 150 mhamer

Tickets are selling fast for big birthday bash

Star-studded show to mark Jimmy Cricket's 80th birthday!

The special show celebrating Jimmy Cricket’s forthcoming 80th birthday is approaching a sell-out.

Only about 50 tickets remain for the big charity gala at The Lowry in Salford later this year.

Tim Vine, Roy Walker, Barbara Nice, Syd Little and Steve Royle are among the entertainers performing on 1 November.

Fellow Northern Irish funnyman Adrian Walsh and Jimmy’s daughter, Katie Mulgrew, complete the talented line-up – as well as the birthday boy himself, of course!

Jimmy said: “The Lowry is a lovely venue down by the Quays.

“I’m no stranger to the place, having performed there twice previously.

“I did a double header with Mick Miller and appeared as part of a podcast event with Richard Herring.

“Also, I went to watch Tim Vine there a few years ago – Tim will be doing a spot for us at my birthday show.

“It will be a happy birthday family event with some great acts thrown in – and a fire extinguisher to blow out the candles on the cake!”

Joining Jimmy on stage are:
  • Roy Walker (Catchphrase, The Comedians)
  • Syd Little (The Little and Large Show, Shooting Stars)
  • Steve Royle (Britain’s Got Talent, Phoenix Nights)
  • Barbara Nice (Coronation Street, Britain’s Got Talent)
  • Adrian Walsh (Today with Des and Mel)
  • Tim Vine (Not Going Out, Live at the Apollo)
  • Katie Mulgrew (Coronation Street, Lovefix, The Dog Ate My Homework).

Tickets are available here.

Professional care
The show will raise funds for Francis House Children’s Hospice, based in Didsbury, south Manchester.
Jimmy has raised thousands of pounds over many years for Francis House, which cares for children and young adults with life-threatening conditions.
It provides a home from home where families receive professional care, support and friendship.

Sister Aloysius and Fr Thomas Mulheran set up the Rainbow Family Trust in the early 1990s as a charity.

They were concerned about the lack of palliative care for the families of children with a short-life expectancy.

The late Diana, Princess of Wales, officially opened the seven-bedroom Francis House in November 1991.

Also read:

Sarah Millican & Jimmy Cricket with the ‘podfather’

Complimentary drink for ‘momentous milestone’ 150 150 mhamer

Complimentary drink for ‘momentous milestone’

The Lyndene Hotel is marking Jimmy Cricket's special anniversary with a celebratory drink during dinner.

The Lyndene Hotel is marking Jimmy Cricket’s special anniversary with a complimentary drink during dinner.

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy is currently performing in his 10th year at the popular Blackpool venue.

He returns there on Wednesday (4 June) for the second of four times in 2025.

The Lyndene said on social media: “🥳In celebration for 10 years exclusively at the Lyndene Hotel, during dinner everyone receives a complimentary glass of prosecco to celebrate with him 🥂🍾.

“To help Jimmy and us celebrate this momentous milestone, book in today by contacting us on:
📞 01253 346779
📩 reservations@lyndenehotel.co.uk
Jimmy’s other shows at the Lyndene this year are on:
  • Wednesday 3 September
  • Wednesday 3 December

See all Jimmy’s booked events here.

Also read: And there’s more… yet another season at the Lyndene!

A reminder that Jimmy’s official autobiography is still on sale.

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian tells the heart-warming story of Jimmy’s illustrious life and 50-year career.

The paperback costs £10 and can be bought at online retailer Amazon here, also being available in eBook and audio formats.

Signed copies (£13.99 including postage and packing) can be purchased on this website here.

It is also available at Jimmy’s live gigs for £10 where he will sign it.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities.

The Jimmy Cricket Story is the famous comedian's official autobiography

 

Ken Dodd and the stolen concrete wellies 150 150 mhamer

Ken Dodd and the stolen concrete wellies

Hi friends! Here is my latest #leponline column, a funny and true story which involves one of the greatest comedians we ever produced, (and whom we all sadly miss) Sir Ken Dodd.

The mystery of Jimmy Cricket’s stolen concrete wellies and why there was a happy ending despite them never being found is the subject of his latest newspaper column.

Writing in the Lancashire Evening Post, the Northern Irish comedian tells the story involving a close and famous friend.

Jimmy said on social media: “Hi friends! Here is my latest #leponline column.

“A funny and true story which involves one of the greatest comedians we ever produced (and whom we all sadly miss), Sir Ken Dodd.”

Here is the column:

Welcome readers, I’d like to share a memory – come closer…

It happened over 30 years ago – 1995 to be precise.

And it happened in a restaurant called Patricks in Rawtenstall, Lancashire.

It was my 50th birthday and my family had hired the restaurant to help me celebrate the occasion.

It was wonderful to sit there surrounded by all my friends.

And although the room was full, I couldn’t help noticing two empty seats right next to me.

Then it happened!

I was just about to swallow a spoonful of soup when two people came through the door – could it be?

No it couldn’t, yes it was! Sir Ken Dodd with Lady Anne by his side.

Any doubts I had that it was the real Doddy were swept aside as they both saddled straight up to our table.

Anne placed a tickling stick down, but Ken was carrying something much heavier and when he plonked down his present the table nearly collapsed!

It was a king-sized pair of concrete wellingtons!

Totally unprepared

As I looked closer, I could see the handwritten inscription To Jimmy, Lots of Happiness – Ken.

Now the mystery of the two empty chairs had been solved.

And for the next couple of hours, I shared my birthday meal with a man whom I had both loved and admired all my life.

The next part of this story takes an unexpected twist.

A few years later I was taken aback when Mrs Cricket broke the news to me that the spot in my front garden that was occupied by my birthday wellies was now empty.

Yes folks, they’d been nicked, and I was gutted.

After informing the police, I rang a local radio station.

I thought it would be a novel little story to amuse the listeners.

But I was totally unprepared for the avalanche of publicity that came my way.

Happy ending

The phone calls and emails from radio presenters and journalists around the country enquiring about my missing wellies just kept coming.

I suppose it was a testament to the esteem and affection the nation held for Ken.

It gave me an idea to write a song called Santa Bring My Wellies Back To Me which raised some money for a children’s hospice in Manchester called Francis House.

So you could say I turned a disadvantage into an advantage.

As for the wellies themselves? Well, I never did get them back, but the story does have a happy ending.

Not long after, my good lady sent off for a pair of concrete wellingtons on eBay, which Sir Ken kindly signed again, and they’ve got pride of place in my living room.

Every time I look over at them, I realis how blessed I was to be friends with one of the greatest comedians that ever landed on planet Earth!

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian now just £10!

 

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian now just £10! 150 150 mhamer

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian now just £10!

The Jimmy Cricket Story is the famous comedian's official autobiographyJimmy Cricket’s autobiography, Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian, is now even better value than ever!

The book tells the heart-warming story of Jimmy’s 50 golden years in showbusiness – in his own words.

It has a high rating on retail platform Amazon, where it is currently available for £10.

One reviewer wrote: “Brings back memories of days gone by. A true comedian & gentleman. Highly recommend.”

Another purchaser reflected: “Jimmy’s story is wonderful.

“It is personal without being egotistical, detailed without being dull, funny in all the right places!”

And one person described it as the “the ultimate feel-good book”.

Additonally, it is available in ebook format on Amazon priced £9.99 (unless you have subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, in which case it is free – Amazon Kindle allows users to read ebooks purchased on Amazon.)

Mary’s Meals

Jimmy will sign copies of the book at his live shows, where they are also available for the discounted price of £10.

And there is also the opportunity for people to purchase a signed copy of Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian on Jimmy’s website.
Go to the Shop section of the site and follow the instructions towards the bottom of the page.
The cost is £10, plus £3.99 for postage and packaging.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Also read: Jimmy talks about his book here

Mary’s Meals: 20 years serving global communities

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

 

Bernie Clifton will have you laughing and crying! 150 150 mhamer

Bernie Clifton will have you laughing and crying!

Bernie Clifton will have you laughing and crying!

Bernie Clifton will have you “laughing hysterically at his visual comedy one minute, and sobbing the next when he performs a song like Bring Him Home from the stage musical Les Misérables”.

Fellow funnyman Jimmy Cricket devoted his latest newspaper column to Bernie, who is still performing despite approaching his 90s.

Below is Jimmy’s April column published in the Lancashire Evening Post.

When a pair of concrete wellingtons that the late Sir Ken Dodd gave me as a birthday present went missing from my front garden, I was taken back by the publicity it aroused.

A few weeks after the fuss had died down, I received an email from comedian Bernie Clifton.

It read: “Jimmy, let me know when you’ve had enough publicity from this and I’ll bring them back.”

I roared with laughter.

At the ripe young age of 87, our Bernie is still touring the country gigging, playing practical jokes and spreading happiness everywhere he goes.

Let’s go back to where it all began.

Bernie Quinn was born in St Helens just before the Second World War started and spent his childhood hiding under his bed when the sirens went off.

He was only four years old when a bomb fell on their neighbour’s house four doors away.

Their 14-year-old daughter who used to teach him magic tricks perished in the blast; in his profound sadness, he realised at that early age how fragile life can be.

Kids wore clogs to school in those days and although he scraped through his 11 plus, it was all downhill from then on in.

Happily scoring touchdowns

He was more interested in who was number one in the hit parade of the day, than what went on in the classroom.

His mum persuaded him to become an apprentice plumber, but after he flooded half the neighbourhood that all came to an abrupt end.

Conscription came calling and he joined the RAF.

When he showed his skills as a rugby league player, they signed him up for the local air base team and he sailed through his National Service happily scoring touchdowns.

Reading his autobiography recently, I was quite taken aback at how much Bernie and I had in common.

We both frittered away our time at school; we both messed up every job we took up.

It was only when we both entered the entertainment profession that we found our true calling

In Bernie’s case, it was when he got up to sing with the local dance band in his hometown of St Helens.

Queen Elizabeth giggling at his antics

From there he toured the Yorkshire social clubs as a vocalist, before he found his true calling in comedy.

He got his first big break on the television variety show The Good Old Days, where he met comedy legend Les Dawson who advised him to be a prop comic.

Not long after that, a famous propmaker made Bernie the prop that was to become his calling card – Oswald the Ostrich.

Bernie got so excited when he first saw it that he jumped into it and ran outside.

The sight of a grown man running up and down the street in false ostrich legs had passers-by spellbound.

Would you believe he actually ran the London marathon for charity in a lighter version of the costume?

From then on in, there was no looking back for our Bernard.

He became resident comedian on the children’s hit tv series Crackerjack.

The Royal Variety show beckoned where he had her Majesty Queen Elizabeth giggling at his antics.

Naturally our career paths have crossed from time to time and I’m always in awe the way he radiates the same enthusiasm and energy for comedy, and showbiz, in his eighties, that he had when he started out as a ballroom band singer.

Try to catch his live act readers. He’ll have you laughing hysterically at his visual comedy one minute, and sobbing the next when he performs a song like Bring Him Home from the stage musical Les Misérables.

In the meantime, treat yourselves to his autobiography, Crackerjack to Vegas (www.bannisterpublications.com).

See you next month!