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lancashire evening post

Blackpool hotel couple are turning the tide at resort 150 150 mhamer

Blackpool hotel couple are turning the tide at resort

Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool

Jimmy Cricket has praised a couple for making their hotel the “most popular” in the famous seaside resort of Blackpool.

In his December column for the Lancashire Evening Post, entitled Rebuilding the golden smile, the well-known entertainer says that when Barry and Carole Young took over the Lyndene (above) in 1986, it had 33 bedrooms.

“Over the past 29 years they have transformed it into the largest privately owned and most popular hotel in Blackpool with a staggering 144 bedrooms,” he explains.

“They started with a cabaret lounge that seated 70 people and where singers sang in the window area and got changed in the toilet.

Jimmy Cricket's column in the Lancashire Evening Post

“Now you can see top-class acts in two very impressive cabaret lounges that can comfortably seat 300 people, with fantastic stages and state-of-the-art sound and lighting.”

The Lyndene, which is open throughout the year, is situated between Blackpool Tower and the Pleasure Beach.

Jimmy, who turned 70 in October, was a big success when he appeared there over the  August Bank Holiday weekend and was invited back for a spring run of 32 dates from early in 2016 (see full schedule below).

The veteran comedian will appear each Wednesday and Saturday most weeks from mid-January to the end of May.

“I speak from experience because I myself did a show there recently… the atmosphere was electric. So much so that I can’t wait to do some more shows there from January,” he says.

“Barry and Carole have proved with their inspiring story that you can indeed turn the tide in Blackpool.”

Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool

 

‘Our Jimmy’ meets ‘Little Jimmy’ (Osmond) 150 150 mhamer

‘Our Jimmy’ meets ‘Little Jimmy’ (Osmond)

Lancashire Evening Post Jimmy Cricket column

Jimmy Cricket has spoken of his excitement as he prepares to appear with the world-famous Osmonds in a UK-wide tour in the run-up to Christmas.

The well-known Northern Irish entertainer is teaming up with three of the Osmond brothers for a series of seasonal shows, called the Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular, starting on Tuesday 8 December.

The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied history as star performers. They started their musical careers as children and achieved further success as teen-music idols, going on to produce a hit television show and also perform as solo and group artists.

Jimmy Cricket will be teaming up with the world-famous Osmonds for a special Christmas tour

They first comprised brothers Alan, Wayne, Merrill and Jay Osmond and were later joined by younger siblings Donny – the most famous of them – and Jimmy. Their only sister Marie, who rarely sang with her brothers at that time, launched a successful solo career in 1973.

Jimmy’s recording of Long Haired Lover from Liverpool in 1972 resulted in The Guinness Book of World Records designating him the youngest performer to have a number one single on the UK Singles Chart. The song was credited to ‘Little Jimmy Osmond’.

Veteran comedian Jimmy will be a guest show on the Christmas shows, which star Jimmy, Merrill and Jay Osmond.

Speaking in his latest column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post, he said: “From the moment they came on the late Andy Williams TV show in the early 1960s as children, the Osmonds have captivated people’s hearts and built a fan following that has endured through the decades.

“In my last article, I mentioned that I played Branson in Missouri – where Andy Williams’ famous Christmas show was made – broadcast from his own theatre aptly called ‘The Moon River Theatre’.

“Well, Jimmy Osmond has bought it and this November his brothers Merrill and Jay will be staging a lavish tribute Christmas show to Andy, complete with band and dancers.

“The great news is this December they’re taking the whole show over to do 15 dates here in the UK. Yours truly will be doing a 20-minute spot on it and, folks, I can’t tell you how excited I am.”

 Full list of dates (note that the Burnley show is sold out):

DECEMBER

TUES 8 – MALVERN Theatres 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

WED 9 – GUILDFORD G Live 0844 7701 797 www.GLive.co.uk

THURS 10 – WORTHING Assembly Hall 01903 206206 www.worthingtheatres.co.uk

FRI 11 – HARROGATE International Centre 01423 502116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

SAT 12 – CROYDON Fairfield Halls 020 8688 9291 www.fairfield.co.uk

SUN 13 – WATFORD Colosseum 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

MON 14 – MARGATE Winter Gardens 01843 292795 www.margatewintergardens.co.uk

TUES 15 – EASTBOURNE Congress Theatre 01323 412000 www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

WED 16 – LONDON Indigo2 08448 244824 www.axs.com

THURS 17 – WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall 0870 320 7000 www.wolvescivic.co.uk

FRI 18 – BRADFORD St George’s Hall 01274 432000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

SOLD OUT: SAT 19 – BURNLEY Mechanics Theatre

SUN 20 – NEWCASTLE City Hall 0191 277 8030 www.newcastlecityhall.org

MON 21 – EDINBURGH Queens Theatre 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net

TUES 22 – CHESTERFIELD Winding Wheel 01246 345222 www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

The tour is promoted by Tony Denton Promotions and  for more information about the show and for links to each individual venue, please go to the Tony Denton Promotions website at www.tdpromo.com

Latest LEP column: How Mrs Cricket solved my pancake problem 150 150 mhamer

Latest LEP column: How Mrs Cricket solved my pancake problem

Jimmy Cricket's latest column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Pancakes and what to do when you can’t fit them into the toaster is the subject of Jimmy Cricket’s latest newspaper column.

Writing in the 14 September issue of the Lancashire Evening Post, the famous entertainer tells of the time when Mrs Cricket had the answer to his pancake dilemma.

“She calmly reached for a knife, promptly cut the pancake in two and plopped the two halves in the toaster,” says Jimmy, who admits he loves the round flat cakes.

“Why that lady isn’t on the Great British Bake-Off I’ll never know!”

 

 

Fun and games at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe 150 150 mhamer

Fun and games at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe

Jimmy Cricket's August column in the Lancashire Evening PostJimmy Cricket has recalled when he performed at the famous Edinburgh Festival Fringe – and how disaster struck.

Big names from the world of entertainment to unknown artists looking to build their careers take part in the annual festival, with genres including theatre, comedy, dance,  circus, cabaret, children’s shows, musicals, opera and music.

According to Wikipedia, it is the world’s largest arts festival, with the 2014 event spanning 25 days and featuring over 3,193 shows from 51 countries on hundreds of stages.

It takes place every August for three weeks in Scotland’s capital city.

In his latest column in the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post, famous comedian Jimmy, 69, says how he came to perform at the festival and what happened when he did.

“It was about 17, maybe 18, years ago and a summer show in Blackpool I was booked to appear at fell through,” he explains.

“I was busy trying to fill my diary with whatever work I could get, when an agent rang and said did I want a slot in Edinburgh during the festival.

“My contribution to the Edinburgh Fringe back during that first visit was a very family affair. My two sons and nephew came with me as a backing band – and a motley crew we all must have seemed.

“Disaster struck on the second day! You see, after our set was finished at 9pm, I would mosey back to the guest house that Mrs Cricket had booked for all of us.

“However, my sons and nephew being in their twenties – in other words, full-blooded whipper snappers – would go out and paint the town.”

Jimmy recalls that on the second morning, he awoke to find that his car had been towed away as his sons and nephew had parked it the previous night without realising it was on double yellow lines.

A trip to the police station and a £60 fine later, and Jimmy was able to carry on with his festival performances.

He said he forged a lot of good friendships during his visit to Edinburgh, including well-known comedians Tim Vine and Milton Jones – “two guys who prove that you can be hilarious and still be clean”.

‘It’s official darling… the plumber gag is global!’ 150 150 mhamer

‘It’s official darling… the plumber gag is global!’

Jimmy Cricket's column in the Lancashire Evening PostJimmy Cricket tells readers of his latest newspaper column about a successful two-week stint he had in Missouri, USA, a few years ago.

The famous entertainer says in the Lancashire Evening Post that he had a nervous start in Branson, where his show was being held, but settled in soon after telling a particular joke.

He recalls: “At my first show I did a popular joke from my act that goes ‘I’d now like to sing a sad song, folks. It’s all about a plumber that says goodbye to his girlfriend.

“‘It’s called It’s Over Flow!'”

Jimmy says that he phoned his wife, Mrs Cricket, after that first performance to tell her: “It’s official, darling, the plumber gag is global!”

 

Keith Harris: ‘Great showman – we salute you’ 150 150 mhamer

Keith Harris: ‘Great showman – we salute you’

Jimmy Cricket appeared on Keith Harris’s holiday laughter show (with Orville and Cuddles) at the Royal Opera House in the summer of 1982

Jimmy Cricket has been paying tribute in his latest newspaper column to ventriloquist Keith Harris, who died last month.

Keith, who, with his puppet duck Orville, became a regular feature of Saturday night TV in the 1980s, was 67.

He entertained generations of children with his sidekick Orville, a bright green duck who wore a nappy and spoke in a high-pitched voice but couldn’t fly. He also gave life to the popular puppet Cuddles the monkey, whose catchphrase was ‘I hate that duck!’

In addition to fronting The Keith Harris Show on BBC One, he (and Orville) gave private performances at birthday parties for Prince William and his brother Harry, at the request of Diana, Princess of Wales.

His 1982 single, Orville’s Song, was a top five hit, selling more than 400,000 copies.

In his May column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening News, Jimmy says: “Most ventriloquists that are successful discover one dummy that tickles people’s funny bone, but Keith was blessed with two.

“In 1983, holidaymakers were still visiting our summer resorts en masse and Keith’s show was a sellout from start to finish.

“Keith Harris – you weren’t just a superb ventriloquist, you were a great showman and producer.

“We salute you.”

Johnny Vegas to also feature in film 150 150 mhamer

Johnny Vegas to also feature in film

Johnny Vegas is appearing in the Womble film

Famous actor and comedian Johnny Vegas is to appear in the Womble movie, which is being filmed on location in North Wales and also features entertainer Jimmy Cricket. 

St Helens-born Johnny is well known for his appearances in the hit ITV comedy drama Benidorm and also for popping up in adverts for tea brand PG Tips with a stuffed puppet monkey!

His addition to the cast is another major coup for the people behind Womble the movie, as it also includes top comedian Jimmy, 69, who will play himself as a talent contest judge.

The film is about a man called Aloysius Rupert Womble (played by actor and comedian Tom Spencer), who is in his 30s and living with Asperger’s Syndrome in a typical seaside resort town.

Children and adults affected by Asperger’s Syndrome have difficulty with social interactions and exhibit a restricted range of interests and/or repetitive behaviours.

Aloysius’s dream is to become a stand-up comedian. The film is a week-long snapshot of his life as he goes through the trials of living with a cognitive disorder, while dealing with the injustices forced upon him by society and parts of his community.

Over the seven-day period he prepares for the biggest night of his life – a talent show in his local pub.

The film will feature songs from the Beautiful South’s former lead singer Briana Corrigan and American Pie star Thomas Nicholas, as well as a string of original songs written by songwriters especially for the movie.