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magic

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!

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

Journey into the archives 150 150 mhamer

Journey into the archives
Jimmy Cricket performs in the 1985 Royal Variety Performance show

Jimmy Cricket in 1985

Got any old videos or photos of your favourite entertainer?

If you have still pictures or moving footage from down the years of famous Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket – like the Royal Variety Performance clip on the homepage of this website – then we would love to hear from you.

This video from 1985 was sent in by one of Jimmy’s fans and if anybody out there wants to send anything from the archives, then it will also be put online.

The Royal Variety Performance – also known as the Royal Command Performance – is a gala evening held annually in the UK and attended by senior members of the Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch.

Performances showcase a variety of family entertainment, including comedy, dance, singing, magic and other acts, with many of the performers and hosts being popular celebrities.

It is organised on behalf of the Entertainment Artistes’ Benevolent Fund, of which Elizabeth II is patron, with all proceeds donated to the fund.

  • Please email any archive material to jimmy@jimmycricket.co.uk
Still a Mammy’s boy 150 150 mhamer

Still a Mammy’s boy
The Sunday Life article about Jimmy Cricket returning to Belfast for the festival

The Sunday Life article about famous comedian Jimmy Cricket returning to Belfast for the festival

Jimmy Cricket launched an international comedy festival in his native city at the weekend.

Now living in Rochdale, the Northern Irish comedian returned to Belfast to officially open Belly Laughs.

The week-long inaugural Belfast International Comedy Festival began on Sunday with Jimmy’s show at the Black Box venue in the Cathedral Quarter of the city.

In total, the festival, which closes on Sunday (7 October) comprises of 30 performances at 15 venues across Belfast.

As well as stand-up comedy, the festival also features poetry, magic, cabaret, workshops, seminars, club nights, book readings and events for children.

The Belfast-based Sunday Life newspaper previewed the festival and Jimmy’s return to his home city.

Jimmy said: “The show went very well and was a great start to this festival which is in its inaugural year and which it is hoped will become an annual future in Belfast’s cultural calendar.”

Can’t find October dates? Come closer! 150 150 mhamer

Can’t find October dates? Come closer!

Jimmy Cricket and Brotherhood of Man

Struggling to find out what your favourite comedian Jimmy Cricket is up to during October?

Well, come closer!

Technical problems mean that the popular events calendar feature on this website has unexpectedly stopped working – unlike Jimmy who has another busy month ahead.

So please accept our apologies and while we try to rectify the problem, here is Jimmy’s schedule in October – events subject to change, of course.

 

Mon 1st

 Solihull Arts Centre at 1.30pm

 

Tue 2nd

 Sheffield City Hall (Jimmy and Mick)

 

Wed 3rd

 Thameside Theatre, Essex (tenner show)

 

Thu 4th

 Laugh Inn, Chester (Jimmy & Mick)

 

Fri 5th

 Festival Drayton Centre, Market Drayton

 

Sat 6th

 Blackfriars Arts Centre, Boston (music and Mayhem)

 

Thu 11th

 St Peter’s, Hazel Grove

 

Fri 12th

 St Catherine’s, Didsbury

Sat 13th

 Walmer Bridge Village Hall

 

Sun 14th

 Bucknall Pentecostal Church, Stoke-on-Trent

 

Thu 25th

 Laughing Crow Comedy Club, Bishopbriggs, Glasgow

 

Fri 26th

 Sherburn WMC, Durham

 

Sat 27th

 Acorn Theatre, Worksop

 

Sun 28th

 Thwaites Empire Anniversary Show, Blackburn

 

Tue 30th

 Victoria Hall, Southborough, Surrey

 

Wed 31st

 Victoria Hall, Southborough
‘Prodigal son’ going back home… 150 150 mhamer

‘Prodigal son’ going back home…

Belly Laughs poster

Belfast-born Jimmy Cricket is returning to his home city – but not for good.

The comedian, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, is appearing at the inaugural Belfast International Comedy Festival, Belly Laughs, which takes place between Sundays 30 September and 7 October.

Jimmy is opening the festival, which will comprise of 30 performances at 15 venues across the city, with a long-awaited performance at The Black Box.  

In addition to the stand-up comedy, the festival strives to challenge, inspire and inform through poetry, magic, cabaret, workshops, seminars, club nights, book readings and events for children.

“It is obviously a tremendous honour for me to be returning home to Belfast to appear in this new comedy festival,” says Jimmy.

“I am really thrilled to be asked. I hope it will be a fantastic success and an annual fixture for a city which is growing in confidence and artistic prosperity.”

More details about Jimmy’s show – and some lavish praise for the “prodigal son” – can be found below.

Jimmy Cricket returning to Belfast to start the comedy festival, Belly Laughs

Meeting a magician 150 150 mhamer

Meeting a magician
Danny Lee Grew with Jimmy and, left, Norman Jacobs, chairman of the charity which runs West Cliff Theatre

Danny Lee Grew with Jimmy and, left, Norman Jacobs, chairman of the charity which runs West Cliff Theatre

Jimmy Cricket was treated to a magic trick by a fellow entertainer at an Essex theatre.

Danny Lee Grew, a London-based magician, performed a piece of magic involving a sponge to the delight of famous Irish comedian Jimmy and Norman Jacobs, chairman of the charity which runs the West Cliff Theatre in Clacton-on-Sea.

Danny was one of the first performers to entertain at the new Olympic Stadium in Stratford, East London. He entertained a 5,000-strong crowd with his close-up magic and also performed for many celebrities throughout the day.

He is the resident magician for Marvin’s Magic at Hamleys toy store and Harrods of Knightsbridge, and was a Bluecoat entertainer at Pontin’s Holiday Park in Prestatyn, North Wales.

Celebrities other than Jimmy who have seen Danny’s magic include musician Peter Andre, pop band Madness, Duncan Bannatyne of the BBC’s Dragons’ Den and players from West Ham United Football Club.

Visit Danny’s website here

Video of the trick can be seen on the homepage of this website.