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northern ireland

My thanks for 2023 – and here’s what happening in 2024! 150 150 mhamer

My thanks for 2023 – and here’s what happening in 2024!

Strictly Come Dancing is the theme of Jimmy Cricket's 2023 Christmas card.

Jimmy’s Christmas card for this year

Hi folks, it’s me, Jimmy, come closer!

As we approach the end of 2023, I’d like to say a big ‘thank you’ to everyone who came out to see me at one of my live shows this year, and who bought my new autobiography which came out on the first of April.

I’d like to take this opportunity to tell you about some of the exciting things that will be happening in 2024…

There’s nowhere quite like Blackpool and next March I’ll be playing my ninth season at the lovely Lyndene Hotel on the promenade.

The four dates there next year are as follows:

  • Wednesday 6 March
  • Wednesday 5 June
  • Wednesday 4 September
  • Wednesday 4 December.

Also in March I’ll be going back to the Cabaret Lounge in Hull for my fifth appearance for owners Paul and Bev – on Sunday 17 March (St Patrick’s Day of course!).

And to round off a great month, I’ll be doing a three-day theatre tour of Northern Ireland with my fellow Irish comedians: Roy Walker, Adrian Walsh, Gene Fitzpatrick and George Jones.

The dates for that are:

In July I’ll be doing two shows for my favourite television channel – Talking Pictures – at the Savoy Theatre in Monmouth, Wales. For anyone who can’t get to the actual shows, they will be televised.

I’ll keep you in touch with these shows and any others on this website via the Tour Dates section.

In the meantime, my wife May and myself wish you and your families a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Yours Truly

Jimmy

Buy Jimmy’s autobiography!

If you’re looking to buy someone a lovely Christmas present, then don’t forget that Jimmy’s official autobiography is on sale!The Jimmy Cricket Story is the famous comedian's official autobiography

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian tells the heart-warming story of his illustrious life and 50-year career.

The paperback costs £11.99 and is available at online retailer Amazon here.

Signed copies (priced £15.99 including postage and packing) can be purchased on this website here.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Also read: Jimmy Cricket’s signed autobiographies now available by post!

Jimmy Cricket's Christmas card 2020

Comedy classic shows feature four famous funnymen 150 150 mhamer

Comedy classic shows feature four famous funnymen

The comedians - Classic Comedy With Roy Walker, Adrian Walsh, Jimmy Cricket and Gene Fitzpatrick with Clubsound

Two shows featuring four Northern Irish comedy legends take place on the Emerald Isle early in 2024.

Our very own Jimmy Cricket is among the quartet, which also includes Roy Walker who presented popular TV game show Catchphrase for more than a decade.

Gene Fitzpatrick and Adrian Walsh complete the fab four.

Musical accompaniment and laughter comes from comedy showband Clubsound.

The first show is at the Riverside Theatre in Coleraine on Tuesday 23 January (8pm).

Book online here or call the box office on 028 7012 3123.

The Grand Opera House in Belfast – the city of Jimmy’s birthplace – hosts the second performance on Friday 22 March (7.30pm).

You can book here. Alternatively, phone 028 9024 1919.

Autobiography

Don’t forget that Jimmy Cricket’s autobiography is on sale.
Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian is priced at £11.99 as a paperback.

It is also available as an ebook priced £9.99 (unless you have subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, in which case it is free).

Amazon Kindle allows users to read ebooks purchased on Amazon.

Jimmy has said he is happy to sign copies of the book at his live shows, where they are available for a discounted price of £10.

The autobiography tells the heart-warming story of his 50 golden years in showbusiness – told in his own words.

Recognisable for wearing a funny hat and green wellies marked L and R on the wrong feet, Jimmy has been making people laugh as a professional comedian for half a century.

And he proudly keeps his comedy clean – increasingly rare these days –  making him the perfect family entertainer.

The book is available from online retailer Amazon here.

Mary’s Meals

His best-known catchphrases include ‘And there’s more!’ and ‘Come closer!’

He is also famed for reading out Letters from his Mammy, which have provided the material for two published books.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Also read: Mary’s Meals: 20 years serving global communities

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

‘Comedy legend’ is focus of Irish Sun feature 150 150 mhamer

‘Comedy legend’ is focus of Irish Sun feature

Comedy legend Jimmy Cricket, 76, tells of troubled times and salutes ‘best of the Irish’ after 50 years in showbiz

An Irish newspaper has marked ‘comedy legend’ Jimmy Cricket’s 50 years in showbusiness with a fascinating article about his life and career.

Among many other things, Jimmy tells the Irish Sun about walking off stage after being verbally abused over terror attacks in Northern Ireland.

He highlighted the Irish Sun piece on social media, saying: “My thanks to Jason Johnson @IrishSunOnline who interviewed me about my life and times (while sharing some of my own personal experiences) in the world of showbusiness!”

The headline describes Jimmy as a “comedy legend”.

The feature reads: Laughs legend Jimmy Cricket has paid tribute to “the best of the Irish” who entertained millions through the darkest days of the Troubles.

The madcap star, who fronted his own prime-time ITV show in the 80s, saluted colleagues as he gears up to mark a mighty 50 years in showbiz.

In a revealing interview, Jimmy told of walking off stage after being hit with vile abuse over terror attacks in Northern Ireland.

And he told how he was criticised over his own befuddled Irish comedy creation.

Famed for his “c’mere, there’s more” catchphrase, Belfast’s beloved Jimmy has won countless fans worldwide and raised an untold fortune for good causes.

Now 76, the kind-hearted comic – real name Jimmy Mulgrew – still continues to gig weekly as Jimmy Cricket.

‘Sympathetic character’

Yet the comedy veteran has no plans at all to hang up the iconic L-R boots saying: “I’m going to bop ‘til I drop.”

Looking back over his career, which includes being honoured with a Papal Knighthood for his charity work, Jimmy said his goal has always been to entertain but never embarrass the audience.

He said his family-friendly alter ego, who receives regular ‘letters from mammy,’ is a “sympathetic character.”

He told the Irish Sun: “I want the audience to love me, to be honest.

“Maybe it is insecurity or needing reassurance, but I enjoy the sympathy for the downtrodden character.”

He said his Christian faith has “defined me I suppose, and the type of material I do”.

Yet the intentions directed towards the undertaker’s son have, in years gone by, not always been kind.

Lancashire-based Jimmy told of performing in Morecambe in the 70s “and I hadn’t been long in the business full-time”.

He added: “A fella came up to the front of the stage and he was remonstrating about the British soldiers getting killed on the streets.

“The audience was telling him to ‘sit down’ saying ‘it’s not a political rally’ and ‘the fella is just trying to make us happy.’

“Obviously he was escorted off by security but I was quite raw then and inexperienced.

“To be honest it upset me so much I walked off.”

‘I can’t change my accent’

He said as his popularity soared and the big breaks came, he was again targeted on stage – but this time over gags some felt “made fun of the Irish.”

Jimmy said: “I’ve seen both ends of the circle.

“I remember one particular time there was an organised shouting up to the stage about it.

“It’s the old story nobody kicks a dead dog. When you get a bit of fame obviously people latch on for their own reasons.

“My character obviously is going to be silly because that’s part of me. And I was born in Ireland and I can’t change my accent.

“But there was a lot of comics in the 70s who weren’t Irish doing Irish jokes and my fellow countrymen and women could maybe get a bit upset about that.

“I can understand that, but it’s all changed now. I get as many Irish as English come to my shows, which makes me feel really good.”

Read the full article here

Also read: Who was Jimmy’s hero while growing up in Belfast?

 

Lord Alton’s ‘wonderful tribute’ to John Hume 150 150 mhamer

Lord Alton’s ‘wonderful tribute’ to John Hume

Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume, who brought peace and stability to Northern Ireland

Jimmy Cricket described an article written by Lord David Alton about the late John Hume as a “wonderful tribute”.

The former SDLP leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient died last week aged 83.

He was a key architect of the Belfast Agreement,

It was also known as the Good Friday Agreement, because it was reached on Good Friday, 10 April 1998.

The talks addressed issues which had caused conflict during previous decades.

They resulted in an agreement between the British and Irish governments on how Northern Ireland should be governed.

It aimed to establish a new, devolved government for Northern Ireland.

Unionists and nationalists would share power under the agreement.

Because of Covid-19 restrictions, limited numbers attended the funeral Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry.

‘Works tirelessly for peace

Lord Alton highlighted Hume’s contribution to bringing about peace.

Jimmy said: “What a wonderful tribute to Politician and Nobel Peace Prize winner John Hume, who brought peace and stability to N. Ireland.

This article is by Lord David Alton who himself works tirelessly for peace and justice throughout the world.”

Lord Alton, an MP for 18 years, used his own website to pay tribute.

He said: “He attracted many of us into political life, knowing that we had to find political solutions and answers to deep seated injustices.

“And that cycles of revenge killings were not the answer.

“We will not quickly forget the role he played in providing a counterpoint to paramilitary violence, in opposing narrow-minded bigotry and sectarianism…

“… In championing cross-community reconciliation and devolved government, and in giving politicians a good name.”

Lord Alton began his career as a teacher.

In 1972, while still a student, he became Britain’s youngest city councillor, in Liverpool.

Seven years later, he became the youngest member of the House of Commons and was later appointed a life peer.

His motto on his Coat of Arms is taken from the Book of Deuteronomy: Choose Life.

Read the full tribute here.

Also read: LEP column was epitaph to the ‘wonderful’ Vera Lynn

Funeral for John Hume was ‘beautiful and moving’ 150 150 mhamer

Funeral for John Hume was ‘beautiful and moving’

Hi folks for those who missed the beautiful moving Funeral Mass of John Hume, who helped to bring peace, here is a link below, it was wonderful to see his great friend @Phil_Coulter , musician and composer play John’s favourite tune, The Town I Love So Well

Jimmy Cricket described the funeral of Nobel Peace Prize recipient John Hume as “beautiful and moving”.

The former SDLP leader died last week aged 83.

He one of the key architects of the Belfast Agreement.

The deal was also known as the Good Friday Agreement, because it was reached on Good Friday, 10 April 1998.

It was a peace agreement between the British and Irish governments, and most of the political parties in Northern Ireland, on how Northern Ireland should be governed.

The talks leading to the Agreement addressed issues which had caused conflict during previous decades.

Its aim was to establish a new, devolved government for Northern Ireland.

Unionists and nationalists would share power under the agreement.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions on gatherings, there were limited numbers at John Hume’s funeral Mass in St Eugene’s Cathedral in Derry on 5 August.

About 100 people – mostly close family and friends – attended the service.

The funeral was broadcast online.

Jimmy said on social media it was a “beautiful moving funeral Mass” for a man “who helped to bring peace”.

He added: “It was wonderful to see his great friend @Phil_Coulter, musician and composer play John’s favourite tune, The Town I Love So Well.”

Watch the funeral for John Hume here

Also read: LEP column was epitaph to the ‘wonderful’ Vera Lynn

 

Return to Bacup theatre for St Patrick’s Day show 150 150 mhamer

Return to Bacup theatre for St Patrick’s Day show

JUST £10 FOR ADULTS/£5 FOR CHILDREN Jimmy Cricket - Great Value for a Tenner Comedy Show Featuring Dancers from Dansworks Dance Academy of Performing Arts CIC Sunday 17th March 2019 Book Now - www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/489130 Tickets also available from Wishes Galore, Rochdale Road, Bacup. You pay no booking fee at Wishes Galore! #jimmycricket #comedylegend #livecomedy #familyentertainment #rossendale #rossendalevalleyFamous funnyman Jimmy Cricket is performing again at the Lancashire theatre where he recorded his DVD.

Jimmy Cricket Live – Pull Your Seats Forward was created by the popular comedian’s family company, Wellie Boot Productions, in 2010 at the Royal Court Theatre in Bacup, Lancashire, near Jimmy’s adopted home of Rochdale in Greater Manchester.

And the Northern Irish entertainer returns to the venue on Sunday – St Patrick’s Day – for one of his Great Value for a Tenner comedy shows.

Belfast-born Jimmy produced the DVD in response to the overwhelming public clamour that suggested there was a real demand for a recording of his stand-up entertainment.

Jimmy Cricket Live - Pull Your Seats Forward

The DVD is an hour and 10 minutes long and includes Jimmy’s favourite routines, a phone call and letter from his mammy, his famous Leaving Home poem, his sentimental ballad called I’m Dreaming of a Far off Land and 20 minutes of extras.

Around 8,000 copies of the DVD have been sold, which is particularly impressive as it is not available in retail outlets; it can only be bought via the Go Shopping page on this website or at one of his live shows.

Jimmy posted on social media this week: “Looking forward to my return to the Theatre were I recorded my DVD nine years ago for the St Patrick’s Day celebrations this coming Sunday with Dansworks Dance Academy and a few Irish songs from Mrs C. ☘️

The full details for the show are below:

?JUST £10 FOR ADULTS/£5 FOR CHILDREN?
Jimmy Cricket – Great Value for a Tenner Comedy Show
Featuring Dancers from Dansworks Dance Academy of Performing Arts CIC
Sunday 17 March 2019
Book Now – www.ticketsource.co.uk/date/489130
Tickets also available from Wishes Galore, Rochdale Road, Bacup. You pay no booking fee at Wishes Galore!
#jimmycricket #comedylegend #livecomedy#familyentertainment #rossendale #rossendalevalley

Below: watch an interview with Jimmy about his DVD.

Chatting with Pamela on UTV Life’s famous sofa 150 150 mhamer

Chatting with Pamela on UTV Life’s famous sofa

Jimmy Cricket appeared on UTV Life

Jimmy Cricket was a guest on Northern Irish television programme UTV Life recently.

The famous Belfast-born entertainer, described in the preview material as a “comedy legend”, talked to chat show host Pamela Ballentine.

UTV is a commercial television broadcaster in Northern Ireland owned and operated by ITV plc as part of the ITV Network.

The show featuring Jimmy can be viewed here.

Pamela is one of Northern Ireland’s best-known presenters, renowned for her friendly hosting skills on some of television’s most popular shows, including Friday evening’s UTV Life which draws a weekly plethora of A List stars who join her for a chat on her famous sofa.