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jimmy cricket

The good old days of Music Hall & Variety 150 150 mhamer

The good old days of Music Hall & Variety

Jimmy CricketJimmy Cricket is leading a return to the good old days in 2013.

The famous Irish comedian will  headline a national tour of a Music Hall Show which is being produced by Mark Andrews Productions.

It will feature all the typical hallmarks of a ‘Good Old Days’ format, complete with a chairman who will throw out to the audience some linguistic challenges!

The show, called The good old days of Music Hall and Variety, will visit the following UK towns and cities during next year: Shrewsbury, Billingham, Stockport, Derby, Cheltenham, Cleethorpes, Tunbridge Wells, Swansea, Ipswich, Kings Lynn, Skegness, Cardiff, Redhill, New Brighton, Nottingham, Dudley and Harlow.

More details for each date can be found within the tour dates section of this website.

Please note that most performance times are scheduled for the afternoon, but there is the odd occasion when an evening show has been arranged in addition to the matinee performance.

Events calendar fixed – and improved! 150 150 mhamer

Events calendar fixed – and improved!

Jimmy Cricket events calendar

The feature on this website showing all Jimmy Cricket’s forthcoming appearances is working again!

And there’s more! The old calendar, which stopped functioning properly a while ago for unknown reasons, has been replaced by something bigger and better.

An enhanced feature allows fans to subscribe to the calendar if they wish through Google, meaning they can now receive phone texts and email reminders.

There is also the facility for Google maps to show everyone exactly where events are taking place.

Famous Irish comedian Jimmy says: “I’m really excited that the calendar is working again and even more so that it has been improved and will provide more information about my forthcoming shows.

“This will respond to feedback we have been receiving from fans enquiring why the calendar function was not working properly. It just took a bit longer than we expected to be put right – but it is has clearly been well worth the wait!”

Go straight to the new-style calendar here.

Evening of fun – with a special message 150 150 mhamer

Evening of fun – with a special message

“A light-hearted evening of fun that will get you rolling in the aisles…but with a special message of God’s love and laughter-medicine right at its heart.”

That write-up set the scene for famous comedian Jimmy Cricket’s show at the Ruskington Methodist Church in the village of Ruskington, just outside Sleaford in Lincolnshire, last Friday (16 November).

An Evening With Jimmy Cricket was organised as an outreach event – such activities provide services to populations who might not otherwise have access to those opportunities – and was well attended.

The Irish funnyman was joined on stage by his compere for such events, Chris Gidney,  who runs his own production company called That’s Entertainment Productions.Jimmy Cricket appeared at the Ruskington Methodist Church

His company is involved in producing several pantomimes over the forthcoming Christmas season, including for the Medina Theatre in Newport on the Isle of Wight.

Jimmy said: “I would especially like to thank the organisers of the event – Bob Potter, Colin Porter and Roy Carter – who did a sterling job in making sure all the tickets were sold.

“I would also like to note the excellent contribution that Nick Page from Shorehill Arts played in making this show a success, as he helped arrange the event with Ruskington Methodist church.”

Comedian turned football manager 150 150 mhamer

Comedian turned football manager

Jimmy Cricket in the home team dressing room at Middlesbrough FCComedian Jimmy Cricket had a taste of what it might be like as the manager of a professional football club last week.

The famous Irish funnyman was at the Riverside Stadium, home of Championship side Middlesbrough FC, on Saturday (17 November).

Jimmy Cricket with Steve Burt, function manager at the Riverside

And he could not resist an invitation to visit the home club dressing room and work out some team tactics for the next match!

Jimmy was really at the Riverside Stadium to participate in the President’s Annual Dinner of the Middlesbrough Circle of Magicians.

This year’s President was Reg Heasley, who also hails from Northern Ireland. Reg wanted Jimmy to appear at his dinner and the event was a great occasion.

Jimmy Cricket with Cath and Lynn from the catering staff at Middlesbrough FC

While Jimmy was at the Riverside, he was invited to pop down to the home team’s dressing room by the stadium’s function manager, Steve Burt (above right).

Left, Jimmy is pictured with Cath (left) and Lynn, who are among the catering staff at the stadium.

Jimmy said: “I wish Middlesbrough FC the best of luck for the current season!”

Note from editor to Middlesbrough players and supporters: Don’t worry, Tony Mowbray is still your manager!

Appearing in Rochdale AFC’s fanzine 150 150 mhamer

Appearing in Rochdale AFC’s fanzine

Rochdale FC fanzine showing comedian Jimmy Cricket alongside the then manager Dave Sutton

Rochdale FC fanzine showing Jimmy Cricket alongside then manager Dave Sutton

Jimmy Cricket was reminded recently of the day he featured on the front page of the Rochdale Football Club fanzine.

It was in April 1997 when the famous Irish comedian appeared in a photograph alongside the then Rochdale FC manager Dave Sutton.

Jimmy has been a resident of the town of Rochdale for nearly 40 years and, like any other football fan, he has from time to time kept an eye on how his local team have been getting on.

This interest extended to him helping them out with a few initiatives back in the 1990s when the then commercial director – a charismatic man called Les Duckworth – was involved with the club  – and he and Jimmy got on really well.

Les’s dad had a music hall connection and Les was passionate about live theatre, which meant he and Jimmy has a lot in common.

As a result of this, Jimmy popped down to Rochdale to help Les out with the occasional fundraiser and presentation, and other initiatives at the club.

This even went as far Jimmy trying to record a comedy football song with the team though it did not go too well as the players’ collective singing ability was not as good as their performances on the pitch!

Jimmy also arranged a comedy five-a-side football match to take place during the half-time interval at one of the midweek matches.

When Les left the club, Jimmy’s association fell away, though he insists: “I was thrilled to see Rochdale at last get to Wembley a few ago when they reached the League Two play-off final.

“I hope that under Rochdale’s current manager, John Coleman, they have a successful season and bounce straight back into League One after last season’s relegation.”

Jimmy’s thanks go to Dale fan Chris Rodgers for sending in a copy of the front cover of the fanzine which is featured above

Headlining St Patrick’s Day show 150 150 mhamer

Headlining St Patrick’s Day show

Jimmy Cricket is featured in the Mill Rythe Holiday Village internal newspaper called The Guest

Jimmy Cricket is featured in the Mill Rythe Holiday Village internal newspaper called The Guest

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket already knows where he will be on St Patrick’s Day next year.

The famous funnyman appeared at the Mill Rythe Holiday Village on Hayling Island near Portsmouth in Hampshire recently – and was immediately invited back.

He will perform over the weekend marking the 2013 St Pat’s celebrations at the holiday village, having been asked to headline the main show on 17 March itself!

Jimmy had a great reception for his recent show and was full of praise for Jack – the centre’s entertainments manager who provided great assistance to the comedian during his visit.

Mill Rythe used to be part of the Warner classic holiday villages network, but is now owned by the Away Resorts Company. They also own two other holiday centres  – at Whitecliff Bay on the Isle of Wight and Tattershall Lakes in Lincolnshire.

Motorbike made out of balloons 150 150 mhamer

Motorbike made out of balloons

Jimmy with Fred and Connie alongside an amazing motorbike made especially for this celebration out of modelling balloons!

Jimmy Cricket with Fred and Connie Van Buren – and that amazing motorbike made of modelling balloons

A motorbike made out of modelling balloons was one of the highlights when comedian Jimmy Cricket helped to celebrate the 80th birthday of one of his friends.

Jimmy Cricket with Connie, Fred's wife

Jimmy Cricket with Connie, Fred’s wife

Magician Fred Van Buren’s party was held in the village of Silverdale in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire.

Fred is now retired but his son, Andy, who has inherited the family penchant for magic, is following in his dad’s footsteps and is one of a few performers still skilled in the art of plate spinning.

Andy has been described as “one of the biggest names in British illusionists for many a decade”.

A multi-talented & skilled performer, he is one of the most experienced performers within the speciality act, shows & entertainment showbusiness today. He a gold star performing member of the Inner Magic Circle and a member of the prestigious showbusiness organisation, the Grand Order of Water Rats.

Fred and Connie get ready to cut the birthday cake

Fred cuts the cake

Jimmy has worked with Andy on many occasions – including in a pantomime at the Garrick Theatre in Lichfield – and the friendship has even involved Fred and Andy storing some of Jimmy’s props in their crammed warehouse which is full of tricks and props – including Jimmy’s gigantic Mexican hats!

This is because Jimmy tried to recreate for a stage show one of the sketches from his TV series called And There’s More on YouTube. This sketch involved large Mexican hats, but Jimmy did not have room for them, so  the Van Burens stepped in to help out and house them for him.

Jimmy says a big thank-you to magician Geoff Rushworth and Andrew Sherratt for supplying these superb photographs of a truly tremendous occasion!

Bike made out of balloons