Posts Tagged :

Norman Wisdom

Ireland’s Own: Humour Special edition features our Jimmy 150 150 mhamer

Ireland’s Own: Humour Special edition features our Jimmy

my thanks to journalist Henry Wymbs, for my fun interview for @irelandsown1902 (Ireland's Own) ‘The Humour Special 2024’ edition.

An interview with Jimmy Cricket about his illustrious career is featured in a special edition of Ireland’s Own magazine.

The famous Northern Irish comedian talks about his life and work in the 2024 Humour Special edition of the publication.

Among the highlights, Jimmy reflects on his upbringing, including his dad running an undertaker’s and a pub in his birthplace of Cookstown, County Tyrone.

The family later moved to Belfast, which Jimmy said ended up being a good move for him.

“Dad would take us to the top theatres in town, like the Empire, to see the likes of Norman Wisdom, Billy Dainty and Harry Worth,” says Jimmy.

“Wonderful showmen, whom I had the pleasure of working with so many times.”

Door-to-door salesman

He went on to become good friends with Norman Wisdom, who died in 2010.

Jimmy also recalls in the article that he was living and working in Manchester by the early 1970s.

He worked long days as a door-to-door salesman – “I wasn’t very successful… as everyone I knew had a door!”.

At the same time, he was steadily building a reputation as a comedian.

He met his future wife, May – a professional singer – at a Pontins holiday camp in Morecambe.

my thanks to journalist Henry Wymbs, for my fun interview for @irelandsown1902 (Ireland's Own) ‘The Humour Special 2024’ edition.

“When I bumped into May, she was wearing a Halloween mask – it was love at first fright!”

After the article was published, Jimmy posted on social media: “My thanks to journalist Henry Wymbs, for my fun interview for @irelandsown1902 (Ireland’s Own) – The Humour Special 2024 edition.”

Ireland’s Own describes itself as “Ireland’s best-selling and longest-running family magazine”.

It is a full colour, weekly magazine “devoted to all that is best about Ireland and being Irish”.

The magazine is published in Wexford, first appearing in 1902.

Also read: ‘The ultimate feel-good book’ – Jimmy’s autobiography

 

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

Norman Wisdom tribute act is part of charity gala 150 150 mhamer

Norman Wisdom tribute act is part of charity gala

Jimmy Cricket has been invited to take part in a fundraiser in May with a distinctive Norman Wisdom feel.TV entertainer Jimmy Cricket has been invited to take part in a fundraiser in May with a distinctive Norman Wisdom feel.

This is because the charity gala on Saturday 6 May is being organised by Barbara Lindsay – who was legendary comedian Sir Norman Wisdom’s PA – and produced and presented by the impresario Johnny Mans – Norman’s agent for many years.

The show will even feature an impersonator of the man himself as Glenn M Ford, who performs as a tribute to Norman Wisdom, will be part of the show’s line-up.

This event is being organised by Barbara to raise funds for churches in and around the town of Whittlesey within the Cambridgeshire Fens.

With the Ivy Leaf Club chosen as the venue, the evening’s proceedings which Johnny Mans has put together, will not just include himself as compere and Glenn Ford as Norman, alongside Jimmy, it also features 60s star Jess  Conrad, illusionist Daniel Dean and a host of other entertainment surprises.

Jimmy, 71, said: “I am looking forward to teaming up once more with Johnny Mans, whom I have known for a long time, and am very pleased to be lending my support to this special event.”

LEP readers, come closer to hear about the wellies! 150 150 mhamer

LEP readers, come closer to hear about the wellies!
wellJimmy Cricket's column in the Lancashire Evening Post
Jimmy Cricket has told readers of his newspaper column how he came to end up with his trademark wellingtons – and why they were recently the subject of a photo shoot.

The Northern Irish entertainer is famous for wearing the green wellies – marked with the letters R and L – on the wrong feet during his acts.

Jimmy, 70, said in the Lancashire Evening Post (LEP) that he first donned them in a Manchester club in an effort to “get a laugh on my entrance by being visually funny… to help me win over some of the more hostile audiences”.

He added that an old pair of his boots were currently on display at a footwear exhibition in Nottingham.

Jimmy also told of the time a pair of concrete wellingtons presented to him by fellow funnyman Ken Dodd were stolen from his garden in Rochdale (they still haven’t been found).

And he also related the story of how recently they were the focus of a photo shoot by Andy Hollingworth,  a photographer who specialises in comedy.

Andy wanted to capture an image of Jimmy’s wellies for an exciting project, which involves him photographing iconic artefacts linked to famous comedians – either from mainstream or alternative comedy.

He has already photographed Eric Morecambe’s glasses, Norman Wisdom’s cap, Mr Bean’s teddy, Alan Carr’s glasses and he even flew over to Los Angeles to meet Harpo Marx’s family, who gave him permission to photograph his famous harp.

Famous wellingtons get their own photo shoot! 150 150 mhamer

Famous wellingtons get their own photo shoot!

Jimmy Cricket's famous wellingtons

Jimmy Cricket’s famous trademark wellies were recently the subject of a photo shoot!

It followed a request from Andy Hollingworth,  a photographer who specialises in comedy.

Andy wanted to capture an image of Jimmy’s wellies (above, in black and white) for an exciting project, which involves him photographing iconic artefacts linked to famous comedians – either from mainstream or alternative comedy.

Well-known Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy, 70, is famous for wearing the green wellington boots – marked with the letters R and L – on the wrong feet during his acts.

Andy has already photographed Eric Morecambe’s glasses, Norman Wisdom’s cap, Mr Bean’s teddy, Alan Carr’s glasses and he even flew over to Los Angeles to meet Harpo Marx’s family, who gave him permission to photograph his famous harp.

Andy met Jimmy at his house in Rochdale to snap the famous wellies – and the two (pictured below) had a great chat about comedy, which lasted longer than expected!

* Photos are copyright of Andy Hollingworth Archive

Jimmy Cricket and Andy Hollingworth