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morecambe and wise

TV tennis sketch – to whom did those umpire legs belong?! 150 150 mhamer

TV tennis sketch – to whom did those umpire legs belong?!

Hi folks! with the US Open a week away, here is a fun sketch, (will be featuring many on the front page of my website in the coming weeks), meanwhile who do these umpire legs belong to?Jimmy Cricket chose a topical time to post his popular TV tennis sketch on social media.

The US Open starts on Monday at Flushing Meadows in New York and lasts two weeks.

It is usually tennis’s final Grand Slam tournament of the year, the others being the Australian Open, the French Open and Wimbledon.

The tennis sketch is from Jimmy’s popular TV show called And There’s More.

It went out on ITV prime-time on Saturday nights and ran for three years between 1985 and 1988.

The show was a mixture of stand-up routines and sketches.

He said earlier this week: “Hi folks! With the US Open a week away, here is a fun sketch, (will be featuring many on the front page of my website in the coming weeks).

“Meanwhile, who do these umpire legs belong to?” Thinking face

Jimmy subsequently shared the answer to his question.

He revealed: “Hi folks, the umpire legs belonged to the great scriptwriter Eddie Braben.

“The great man himself kindly lent us his knees for the sketch and was always fantastic fun to work with, as we went through the scripts he had written!

“You can spot him many times doing cameos throughout the series of And There’s More.”

Eddie, who died aged 82 in 2013, was a legendary comedy writer.

As well as Jimmy, he provided material for Morecambe and Wise.

Eddie was credited with changing the profile of the famous duo.

He helped to turn them into one of the most popular and enduring comedy acts in the history of British entertainment.

Jimmy started working with Eddie on his TV show, And There’s More, and then his radio show, Jimmy’s Cricket Show.

Watch the tennis sketch here

Eddie Braben exhibition is ‘a tribute to a genius’

 

Des O’Connor RIP: I was thrilled to be on his TV chat show 150 150 mhamer

Des O’Connor RIP: I was thrilled to be on his TV chat show

From the moment I saw Des O’Connor playing Buttons in Panto @gohbelfast over 60 years ago, I new he was destined for stardom! I was thrilled to have appeared alongside him on his TV Chat Show in the 80’s! R.I.P. Des #Legend

Des O’Connor’s death at the age of 88 got Jimmy Cricket recalling his fond memories of the famous entertainer.

The London-born comedian hosted his own prime-time TV shows for more than 45 years.

He was also a successful singer.

The popular and long-running Countdown was among the shows he presented.

He was very good friends with Morecambe and Wise.

In addition to performing all over the world, he appeared in hundreds of shows at the London Palladium.

He hosted The Des O’Connor Show, which ran on ITV from 1963 to 1971.

‘Destined for stardom’

In 1977 he began hosting Des O’Connor Tonight, which started on BBC Two before moving to ITV, on which channel it finished in 2002.

He was made a CBE for his services to entertainment and broadcasting in the 2008 birthday honours.

Jimmy reminisced: “From the moment I saw Des O’Connor playing Buttons in Panto @gohbelfast over 60 years ago, I knew he was destined for stardom!

“I was thrilled to have appeared alongside him on his TV Chat Show in the 80s!

“R.I.P. Des #Legend.”

Obituary on the BBC website: From Butlin’s to chat show king

Also read: Bruce Forsyth: Our living room friends for decades

 

 

From the archives: Norman Wisdom and Ernie Wise 150 150 mhamer

From the archives: Norman Wisdom and Ernie Wise

Jimmy Cricket, Ernie Wise and Norman WisdomHere’s a golden memory from the archives – when our very own Jimmy Cricket teamed up with two of his comedy heroes, Norman Wisdom and Ernie Wise.

The three comedians are each donning a smart suit of their own choice from a range of styles to model them.

It was part of a promotional build-up to the International Mens & Boys Wear Exhibition (Imbex), which took place at the Savoy hotel in London.

The date the photograph was taken was 16 February 1989.

This newspaper article the following day carried the headline of Comics put fun into male fashion.

And the story began: “Comedians got all dressed up to kill yesterday”.

Jimmy recalls: “This was fun when I got the chance to meet two of my comedy heroes!

Sir Norman died in October 2010 in a nursing home on the Isle of Man aged 95.

Cult figure in Albania

The London-born star was famous for his slapstick film roles in the 1950s and 1960s, famously playing Norman Pitkin against the frustrated boss Mr Grimsdale.

He was a cult figure in Albania, where his were the only films from the West allowed in the country.

Ernie was one half of the Britain’s most popular comedy duo with Eric Morecambe, Morecambe and Wise.

He died in March 1999 at the age of 73.

Also read: Golden Memories – performing in front of Princess Diana

Eddie Braben exhibition is ‘a tribute to a genius’ 150 150 mhamer

Eddie Braben exhibition is ‘a tribute to a genius’

Been to this wonderful exhibition in honour of one of Liverpool’s son’s, the genius writer Eddie Braben, with his family, widow Dee and daughters Jane and Claire, with fellow acts, the great comedy actor Ricky Tomlinson and comic Tony Barton, alongside the Mayoress and other friends to celebrate his work and life, (today is also his Birthday), it runs for two weeks at this fabulous venue #TheFlorrie ?

Jimmy Cricket and fellow well-known entertainers have visited an exhibition which remembers the great work of legendary comedy writer Eddie Braben.

Eddie, who died aged 82 in 2013, was an English writer and performer best known for providing material for Morecambe and Wise. He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Sir Ken Dodd.

Looking forward to my visit to this wonderful Exhibition as a tribute to the genius writing of @eddie_braben at the Florrie in Liverpool

He was credited with changing the profile of Morecambe and Wise, helping to turn them into one of the most popular and enduring comedy acts in the history of British entertainment.

Jimmy himself started working with Eddie on his TV show, And There’s More, in the 1980s and 90s, and then his radio show, Jimmy’s Cricket Show.

The exhibition on Eddie’s work at The Florrie, a stunning Grade II Victorian community heritage venue located in south Liverpool, opened on Wednesday 31 October for a fortnight.

Jimmy posted on social media: “Been to this wonderful exhibition in honour of one of Liverpool’s sons, the genius writer Eddie Braben, with his family, widow Dee and daughters Jane and Claire, with fellow acts, the great comedy actor Ricky Tomlinson and comic Tony Barton, alongside the Mayoress and other friends to celebrate his work and life.”

The Northern Irish entertainer  described the exhibition as “a tribute to the genius writing of “.

Looking forward to my visit to this wonderful Exhibition as a tribute to the genius writing of @eddie_braben at the Florrie in Liverpool

What is Syd of Little and Large fame doing now? 150 150 mhamer

What is Syd of Little and Large fame doing now?

Jimmy Cricket's April column in the Lancashire Post

Jimmy Cricket devoted his latest monthly column in the Lancashire Evening Post to a man who was one half of a famous comedy double act.

Well-known Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy talks in the 30 April edition of the Preston-based newspaper about Syd Little who formed a great show business partnership with Eddie Large.

Syd was the straight man in the Little and Large act, while Eddie Large was generally the funny guy. They had a TV series and appeared in theatres and pantomimes for many years before they split when Eddie had serious health problems.

Syd now performs on cruise ships, most notably on the QE2 (which was retired from active Cunard service on 27 November 2008), and also runs a restaurant in his hometown of Fleetwood in Lancashire called The Steamer with his wife Sheree.

LEP column: Here’s to the king of comedy writers 150 150 mhamer

LEP column: Here’s to the king of comedy writers

Jimmy Cricket's Lancashire Evening Post columnJimmy Cricket remembers legendary comedy writer and close friend, the late Eddie Braben, in one of his recent newspaper columns.

Edwin ‘Eddie’ Charles Braben was best known for providing material for Eric Morecambe and Ernie Wise. He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Ken Dodd.

He was credited with changing the profile of Morecambe and Wise, helping to turn them into one of the most popular and enduring comedy acts in the history of British entertainment.

Belfast-born entertainer Jimmy, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, recalls in the Lancashire Post how Eddie started out as a market trader, selling fruit and veg from a stall in Liverpool’s St John precinct. In his spare time, he made up jokes.

Jimmy says how nervous he was when he first met Eddie, adding: “That was the start of a beautiful friendship that spanned two TV series, five radio series and even a book of letters from my Mammy.”

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy developed a lasting friendship with Eddie who sadly died aged 82 in May 2013. Below is a newspaper article in which Jimmy paid tribute to his old pal at the time.

Jimmy Cricket pays tribute to Eddie Braben in the Rochdale Observer

Tribute to a friend and a legend 150 150 mhamer

Tribute to a friend and a legend

Jimmy Cricket pays tribute to Eddie Braben in the Rochdale ObserverJimmy Cricket has paid tribute to legendary comedy writer Eddie Braben who has died aged 82.

Edwin ‘Eddie’ Charles Braben was an English writer and performer best known for providing material for Morecambe and Wise. He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Ken Dodd.

He was credited with changing the profile of Morecambe and Wise, helping to turn them into one of the most popular and enduring comedy acts in the history of British entertainment.

Belfast-born entertainer Jimmy, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, started working with Eddie on his TV show, And There’s More, in the 1980s and 90s, and then his radio show, Jimmy’s Cricket Show.

They developed a lasting friendship and Jimmy recalled: “He was so funny, even in his hospital bed, and had this incredible surreal sense of humour.

“Eddie was a wonderful radio writer, as it was more relaxing for him rather than having to do the Christmas specials for 28 million people.”

A full tribute from Jimmy appeared in the Rochdale Observer (above is a copy of the article).