Posts Tagged :

lockdown

Lyndene return: Wonderful to get back to ‘normality’ 150 150 mhamer

Lyndene return: Wonderful to get back to ‘normality’

Was wonderful to get back to what seemed like a sense of normality tonight, at the #LyndeneHotel while social distancing and washing hands!

Jimmy Cricket was delighted to return to his favourite Blackpool hotel recently.

The famous Northern Irish comedian has been appearing at the popular Lyndene Hotel for several years.

He was scheduled to do two shows a night on 23 dates during 2020.

However, the summer performances could not go ahead because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The government placed the United Kingdom into lockdown in late March.

But the reopening of hotels and other entertainment venues meant Jimmy could return to the Lyndene at last.

And he was clearly happy after his first show back there last week.

Jimmy, 74, said: “Was wonderful to get back to what seemed like a sense of normality tonight, at the #LyndeneHotel while social distancing and washing hands! ????“

His return was also welcomed on social media, where the comments included:

  • Well done Jimmy Cricket people need to laugh and forget the negativity of what’s happening, looking forward to seeing you at the Comedy Lounge
  • Well done and welcome back!
  • Bravo Jimmy ???? ???? ???? Many more to come i hope.????
  • Make em laugh Jimmy , just what the Doc ordered
Two or three acts usually perform twice per night, once each in different lounges at the Lyndene.
Every night of the year

The Lyndene Hotel, perched on the seafront, is one of Blackpool’s unique venues as it welcomes tourists and visitors all year round.

Jimmy Cricket will do a New Year's Eve show at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool

Its website says that it offers more than 141 fully equipped and tastefully decorated en suite bedrooms.

“The Lyndene Hotel offers superb compered entertainment EVERY NIGHT of the year,” it adds.

Jimmy is in his FIFTH season at the Lyndene Hotel.

See this year’s dates below* and visit the hotel’s website here.

* Note that any scheduled dates for the rest of 2020 are subject to change or cancellation depending on measures imposed during the pandemic.Returning to what has become my second home working alongside many talented singers and old friends like @MALFORDUK , my thanks goes to Claire @TowerTopEnts and @LyndeneHotel the Manager Paul, and all the Team members for their hospitality and support over the last four years

Why it might be tough to stage pantos this year… 150 150 mhamer

Why it might be tough to stage pantos this year…
Dick Whittington cast

Jimmy played Professor Fitzwarren in Dick Whittington in both Ellesmere Port and his adopted hometown of Rochdale across the 2017 festive season

Jimmy Cricket has provided a light-hearted view as to why pantos would be tricky to produce during coronavirus.

The famous funnyman has appeared in many pantos across the decades.

There is a possibility that some may take place over Christmas if the national restrictions caused by the coronavirus pandemic are not too strict at that time.

Indoor theatres, ice rinks and soft play centres were allowed to reopen in mid-August in most part of the country.

The government placed the United Kingdom into lockdown in late March.

Some areas still have tougher measures in place than others.

Jimmy joked: “It would be hard to do panto this year.

“Cinderella would have to keep a safe social distance from Prince Charming.

“Every time Aladdin rubs the lamp he’ll have to run off stage to wash his hands.

“And it would have to be Snow White and the Six Dwarfs. Well we couldn’t have Sneezy!”

His social media post attracted some comments, including the following:

Saw u a few year back when you done a Christmas show in wisbech. Throughly enjoyed it and grew up watching you on prime time Saturday night tv

He’s 2 meters behind you! Oh no he isn’t!

1st class, loved watching you as a child

:: Jimmy is appearing again at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool.

He also has a show at the Bridlington Spa theatre on Sunday 27 September.

Book tickets for the show here

Also read: Reunion with panto co-star in Clacton-on-Sea

Bridlington Spa: Back from lockdown to laughing! 150 150 mhamer

Bridlington Spa: Back from lockdown to laughing!

Jimmy Cricket is back at the Bridlington Spa later this month.

Looking forward to my return visit to the wonderful #SpaTheatreBridlington as they reopen their doors with social distancing in place!

The popular Northern Irish comedian appears at the East Yorkshire venue on Sunday 27 September (6pm).

Jimmy posted about his return to the theatre on social media.

He said: “Looking forward to my return visit to the wonderful #SpaTheatreBridlington as they reopen their doors with social distancing in place”

The theatre’s website says the following about Jimmy’s return:

Game on….Cricket is back!

It is Jimmy Cricket – the Comedian, with his inimitable style of humour, headlining in what is always a family friendly show, at Bridlington Spa on Sunday the 27th of September 2020.

Jimmy Cricket is one of the UK’s most loved Irish Comedians, having made a host of televisions and radio appearances throughout the last four decades.

Jimmy says, “This virus has cost the lives of so many people and brought untold heartache and misery to their families.

“It’s going to take a while for us all to get over this.

Economically theatres have been hit especially hard so it’s so good to see the Spa Theatre opening its doors to help keep people’s spirits up during these difficult times.”

Speaking of which, when the total lockdown came into effect in March Jimmy posted a joke a day on social media, (Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin), to cheer everybody up.

Government guidelines

“Before I knew it I’d done 100 jokes,” said Jimmy.

“So I thought that would be a good goal to finish on.

“You can’t beat the feedback you get from a live audience and the Spa is one of my favourite theatres.

“The show will follow Government guidelines.

“People will keep two Wellie Boot strides away from each other and even the letter from my Mammy will be disinfected.

“Even though there will be restrictions on numbers with seating spaced out, families will be able to sit together. I’m so looking forward to it.”

Indoor theatres, ice rinks and soft play centres were allowed to reopen in mid-August as lockdown restrictions continue to ease.

The government placed the United Kingdom into lockdown in late March.

Some areas still have tougher measures in place than others.

Book tickets for the show here

Also read: Jimmy Cricket thanks everyone at the Bridlington Spa

Losing the Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a ‘tragedy’ 150 150 mhamer

Losing the Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a ‘tragedy’

Jimmy Cricket says the closure of the iconic Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a "tragedy" for future generationsJimmy Cricket says the closure of the iconic Grand Theatre in Blackpool would be a “tragedy” for future generations.

The theatre, which was almost demolished in 1972, could be closed because of the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

Management warned it would shut unless the government intervened.

Most of the 57 staff were furloughed during the lockdown.

They could be left redundant when the job-saving scheme ends on 31 October.

A charitable trust has run the theatre since 1972, when local campaigners saved it from the bulldozers.

Among them were entertainers such as Sir Ken Dodd and BBC broadcaster Alistair Cooke.

It reopened in March 1981 with a performance of The Merchant of Venice starring Timothy West and Prunella Scales.

Like other provincial theatres which depend largely on box office receipts to keep going, the venue has had no income since the lockdown began.

All tickets were refunded for cancelled shows and plays.

‘We must all get together‘

The theatre, which first opened in 1894, had applied for a £500,000 government grant to keep it going until it might be able to put shows on in January.

However, if social distancing measures were still in place then, it would not make the shows viable and also the money would have run out.

Jimmy said: “We must all get together to save the Grand in Blackpool folks.

“To deprive future generations of this wonderful theatre would be a tragedy.”

His post on Twitter attracted hundreds of likes and retweets as well as some comments.

Also read: Grand Theatre in Blackpool hosts charity concert

External link: Blackpool’s Grand Theatre facing closure amid coronavirus pandemic

Jovial joker Jimmy joins Jive Aces for ‘JiveStream’ 150 150 mhamer

Jovial joker Jimmy joins Jive Aces for ‘JiveStream’

Hi folks! Why not join us this coming Monday on Facebook, as six aces and a joker share some chat and swing live on Facebook, looking forward to working again with these internationally acclaimed group of guys, (Ian, Vince, John, Alex, Ken, Peter), the Jive Aces

Jimmy Cricket is joining the Jive Aces as a special guest on their daily virtual show.

The UK music band present a ‘JiveStream’ every day during the coronavirus lockdown.

Tomorrow’s episode (Monday 3 August) will be their 140th and features our Jimmy.

The performance begins at 8.30pm.

Popular comic Jimmy tweeted: “Hi folks! Why not join us this coming Monday on Facebook, as six aces and a joker share some chat and swing live on Facebook.

“Looking forward to working again with these internationally acclaimed group of guys, (Ian, Vince, John, Alex, Ken, Peter).”

The Jive Aces say ‘JiveStream’ is “an hour of swingin’ music, quality banter, celebrity call-ins, prize draw giveaways and utter stupidity every day during the lock from 8:30pm UK time”.

You can watch the show on YouTube, Facebook or Twitch at the links below:

http://www.facebook.com/jiveaces/live

http://www.youtube.com/jiveaces/live

http://www.twitch.tv/jiveaces

Wikipedia says the band have long been recognised as one of the top swing bands in the world.

They have performed in more than 40 countries.

The June 2015 issue of Vintage Rock magazine described the group as the “UK’s number one jive and swing band”.

The six-member group were formed in 1989 and were Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalists in 2012.

They have released 11 albums and performed at numerous music festivals.

Also read: Tea on the green in Exeter with the Jive Aces

Hi folks! Why not join us this coming Monday on Facebook, as six aces and a joker share some chat and swing live on Facebook, looking forward to working again with these internationally acclaimed group of guys, (Ian, Vince, John, Alex, Ken, Peter), called the Jive Aces

Over and out as Cricket team hit century of videos 150 150 mhamer

Over and out as Cricket team hit century of videos

Jimmy Cricket is just 10 away from completing a century of his special daily video messages.Jimmy Cricket’s run of 100 daily video messages during the coronavirus restrictions is over.

The famous Northern Irish comedian hit the century mark on Wednesday (8 July) and will no longer do them every day.

He had been sending all his fans and friends togetherness posts each day as the world has fought coronavirus.

The UK government announced on 23 March it was imposing strict new curbs on life in the UK.

However, the restrictions for the Covid-19 lockdown are starting to be relaxed nationwide.

Jimmy has been posting the videos on social media with the message: “We can do this together!”

He had posted his first video the day before the lockdown and has attempted to give them topical themes.

Jimmy told a few jokes in the clip and urged people to help each other in these tough times.

He said: “Once we get though this, at the end of the tunnel, we’ll all have a great big huddle together.”

Jimmy Cricket's self-isolating message just before the start of the lockdown. He now sends daily video messages

Jimmy decided a while ago to halt the videos at 100.

He reached the memorable milestone saying: “Hi folks, countdown complete, Hundred points symbol jokes.

“My thanks to @KatieMulg for the original idea to perform my Twitter jokes

“It’s been an absolute joy and pleasure to entertain you on a daily basis! #StayAlert” Rainbow

Watch post number 100 here.

In May, Jimmy penned a special message to all his fans, friends and followers.

In it, he said: “It was my youngest daughter Katie who suggested I do a joke each day on social media not long after the lockdown had kicked in.

“Before we knew it, we’d got to day 54 when one of our Facebookers suggested I go for the 100 jokes.

“His name was Paul Ritchie and I bought into his idea right away.

“After all, I can’t go on indefinitely.

‘Phenomenal job’

“I put on my character costume of tail coat, hat and wellingtons and do them in weekly batches of seven and just drop them in each day one at a time.

“Mrs Cricket’s the one behind the camera and she does a phenomenal job.

“I’m constantly astounded how good the quality is on her iPhone.

“I try to make them relevant to what’s happening in the news.

“I’m thrilled by the emails and texts I get from people telling me how much I cheer them up.”

Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: We can do this together!

Watch video of Jimmy’s lockdown lament

Special poem is read out during lockdown message no 96 150 150 mhamer

Special poem is read out during lockdown message no 96
Hello @jimmy__cricket . Hope you’re well. I’ve loved your countdown to Hundred points symbol jokes. I’m trying to spread smiles with poems. I wrote one for you as part of my #ShowbizStanzas. I hope you like it. Would be lovely to know what you think (or if you’d consider doing a reading of it?)
Jimmy Cricket was sent a poem about himself by a social media follower – and read it out during his latest lockdown video message.
The ode (above) was written by Rachel Keeley (@xRachelKeeleyx), who posted her Showbiz Stanza on Twitter.
She said: “Hello @jimmy__cricket. Hope you’re well. I’ve loved your countdown to Hundred points symboljokes.
“I’m trying to spread smiles with poems. I wrote one for you as part of my #ShowbizStanzas. I hope you like it.
“Would be lovely to know what you think (or if you’d consider doing a reading of it?) Slightly smiling face X”
Jimmy replied: “Lovely Rachel, I will be happy to read and perform your poem here on Twitter, on my way toHundred points symbol jokes! Stay safe! Jimmy xx.”

The Northern Irish comedian was true to his word and read out the poem during his lockdown message 96, which you can watch here.

‘Absolutely brilliant’
Rachel said: “I’m glad you like it Jimmy Smiling face with smiling eyes Thank you so much that means a lot! Best wishes and stay safe X.”
Her poem received praise on social media from Rosina Breen.Jimmy Cricket is just 10 away from completing a century of his special daily video messages.
She said:”Hi Rachel, I thought Thought balloon your poem was absolutely brilliant. Well done Face with tears of joy Face with tears of joy Face with tears of joy xxxxx.”

Jimmy is now just four away from completing a century of his special daily video messages.

He has been sending all his fans and friends togetherness posts as the world fights coronavirus.

The UK government announced on 23 March it was imposing strict new curbs on life in the UK.

Jimmy Cricket's self-isolating message just before the start of the lockdown. He now sends daily video messages

However, the restrictions for the Covid-19 lockdown are starting to be relaxed nationwide, with pubs, restaurants and hairdressers among those business permitted to open again from today (4 July).

Jimmy has been posting the videos on social media with messages like “We can do this together!” and “#stayAlert”Rainbow.

He created the first daily message the day before the lockdown and has attempted to give them topical themes.

Also read: Coronavirus pandemic: We can do this together!

Watch video of Jimmy’s lockdown lament