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katie mulgrew

Plugging Katie’s show at Edinburgh Fast Fringe 150 150 mhamer

Plugging Katie’s show at Edinburgh Fast Fringe

Jimmy Cricket's September column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket did a spot of promoting at this year’s popular Edinburgh Festival Fringe – but not for his own show.

The famous entertainer was there primarily to support his daughter, comedienne Katie Mulgrew, and that included some baby-sitting.

Katie, below right, had her own show at this year’s festival fringe called Saboteur.

Katie Mulgrew, Jimmy Cricket's daughter, had her own show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe called Saboteur

Jimmy, 70, not only popped along to see her act, but was present in Edinburgh to help look after his grandson, Jim, who is Katie’s nearly one-year-old baby.

And he ended up plugging her performance in a brief bit of his own stand-up at the Fast Fringe – as he told readers of his latest column in the Lancashire Evening Post.

“Comedians who have a show up in Edinburgh can go on the Fast Fringe and do a three-minute spot,” explained Jimmy.

“Then at the end of it, they say something like: ‘Well folks, if you’ve enjoyed my little stint, perhaps you might like to see my full 60-minute set. In that case, I’m appearing at…’ then they mention the location of their gig.

“… As I didn’t have a show of my own, when I finished my set I plugged Katie’s show instead.

“Well, I had a stab at this but as I struggled to remember the exact location, I heard my daughter’s voice from the audience shout ‘Sunnyside Social Club, Barraclough Street’.

“Well, you’ll have to admit it’s a bit of a tongue twister.

“A few days later, I went to see Katie’s show and I was as proud as punch!”

Baby sitting, Jive Aces & meeting ‘Big Bird’ at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 150 150 mhamer

Baby sitting, Jive Aces & meeting ‘Big Bird’ at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Charity comedy night for pilgrimage to Lourdes 150 150 mhamer

Charity comedy night for pilgrimage to Lourdes

Sick children on a pilgrimage with the Catholic Church to Lourdes

Veteran entertainer Jimmy Cricket is appearing in a charity show in Greater Manchester on Friday (29 April).

The comedy night in Bury is being staged to raise much-needed funds to send sick children on a pilgrimage with the Catholic Church to the famous shrine of Lourdes in the South of France (last year’s group are pictured above).

Jimmy’s daughter, comedienne Katie Mulgrew, will host the show! The line-up has a further family twist as Jimmy’s son, former comedian Frankie Doodle – who left the stage for the pulpit and who is now Fr Frankie Mulgrew – will also be performing.

The list of entertainers is completed by special guest comedian Steve Royle from BBC Radio Lancashire’s Saturday morning show.

Friday at the Fusiliers will be held in the function suite of the Fusiliers Museum in Bury town centre.

Tickets for the event, priced £12 in advance and £13 on the door, are available from the museum in person, on (0161) 763 8950 or via email at enquiries@fusiliermuseum.com 

For more information on the event, please contact the event organiser Dom Hyndman at domihy@yahoo.co.uk

Daughter Katie wins coveted playwriting prize 150 150 mhamer

Daughter Katie wins coveted playwriting prize

The Stage newspaper reported on Katie Mulgrew's success

Famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket has expressed his immense pride after daughter Katie won a prestigious playwriting competition.

The Rochdale Observer reported on Katie Mulgrew's success

Katie Mulgrew, 30, was the winner of the first ever Liverpool Hope University playwriting prize, with her work entitled Omnibus, which follows a group of friends following a soap opera.

Not only did she earn herself £10,000 in the process, but she now has the opportunity to see the play produced by the Royal Court Theatre in Liverpool, one of the partners for the competition along with the Liverpool Echo newspaper.

She was the only female comic among the 10 finalists.

Katie told The Stage newspaper: “I entered the Liverpool Hope Playwriting Prize because some of my heroes are on the judging panel, and I would adore the opportunity to work with such a beautiful theatre, positively soaked in history and talent.”

Her play was shortlisted at the start of the year as part of a group of 10 plays that went to a judging panel consisting of:

–         Comedienne Kathy Burke

–         Screenwriter Frank Cottrell Boyce

–          Playwright, director and visiting professor at Liverpool Hope University John Godber

–          Playwriter & arts journalist  Paul Allen

–          Chief executive of the Royal Court Theatre Kevin Fearon

–          Principal Lecturer in Drama and Theatre Studies at Liverpool Hope University‌ Dr John Bennett

–          Liverpool Echo arts editor Catherine Jones

Jimmy said: “I am really thrilled for Katie and am incredibly proud of this tremendous achievement.”

The Rochdale Observer reported on Katie Mulgrew's success

Does God laugh out loud? 150 150 mhamer

Does God laugh out loud?

Does God LOL? Compiled by Frankie Mulgrew, son of Jimmy Cricket The comedian-turned-priest younger son of entertainer Jimmy Cricket has had a book published about God and humour.

Frankie Mulgrew, whose stage name was Frankie Doodle, compiled and edited Does God LOL? (LOL is internet slang for Laugh Out Loud), which went on sale recently.

Fr Frankie Mulgrew leaves church after saying his first Mass as a Catholic priest

Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson, Tim Vine, Jo Brand, Milton Jones and the late Frank Carson are among the famous showbiz names to have contributed to the book, which is priced at £7.99 (and is available at all good bookshops and websites, including Amazon).

The foreword was written by top theologian Tom Wright and there are cartoons from Dave Walker, Simone Lia, Mike Kazybrid and Robert Duncan.

All proceeds from sales of the book will go towards the charity Mary’s Meals, an organisation which supports school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Fr Frankie (above right), who was ordained a Roman Catholic priest at Salford Cathedral last month, dedicated the book to his dad – “for introducing me to one of God’s greatest gifts” – when he celebrated his first Mass, and presented him with a special copy.

Does God LOL? develops a theme around whether the Almighty has a sense of humour, with an impressive array of well-known comedians, actors and performers – including Jimmy Cricket as well of course – all giving it some serious thought.

The book is published by Darton, Longman & Todd.

* Does God LOL? is clearly in demand: The popular Amazon website reported on 4 August that it had “only nine [copies] left in stock (more on the way)”, though there appears to be good availability again now (as of 11 August) – and it is currently available at just £5.99.

Maloney’s Big Moment 150 150 mhamer

Maloney’s Big Moment

Cast in Maloney's Big Moment: Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner, Sarah Groarke-Booth and Jimmy CricketA newspaper story about a Spanish coastal town electing an English ex-pat as its mayor inspired top entertainer Jimmy Cricket to write a new radio play.

And Maloney’s Big Moment got its first public showing in front of a live audience at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale.

Famous comedian Jimmy wrote the play after seeing the article and thinking it was a really fascinating scenario, especially as the elected candidate did not have a particular good grasp of Spanish!Radio producer Roger Neale

Joining Jimmy for the recording in early April was a host of locally based actors and actresses.

These included Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner and Sarah Groarke-Booth (all the cast are in the photo above), alongside the production team of Gerry Coates and Roger Neale.

Roger Neale (right) came all the way from Mansfield to help out with the production of the play.

Gerry Coates, from the internet Catholic radio station called Heart Gives unto Heart, and Jimmy between them made the production happen.

Interestingly, the new radio station has been acquired by the national Catholic newspaper called The Universe and will now become a division under this paper’s banner.

It is hoped during the relaunch of the station that this radio play will feature prominently in the opening week’s schedule – watch out for further details on this website.

:: Thanks to John Kay for providing these two great photos from this event.