Posts Tagged :

northern ireland

You Must Be Joking 2016 plays to several sellouts 150 150 mhamer

You Must Be Joking 2016 plays to several sellouts

Jimmy Cricket, John Linehan (AKA May McFettridge), Gene Fitzpatrick and William CaulfieldJimmy Cricket has just finished a tour of his native Northern Ireland with a comedy show called You Must Be Joking.

He featured alongside three fellow Ulster comedians, John Linehan (AKA May McFettridge), Gene Fitzpatrick and William Caulfield.

The tour was born out of the 2014 Cookstown Comedy Festival, as the line-up was put together for the first time there with huge success.

Jimmy CricketThis merited a full tour of the province in 2015, with this year’s edition continuing its popularity with shows at Grand Opera House in Belfast and the Millennium Forum in Derry,  as well as at some of the major towns in the province.

The crowds were marvellous and large in number everywhere, even to the point where several venues were sold out, including the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen.

The latest series of shows were organised by Northern Ireland’s leading tour promoter, David Hull Promotions.

Jimmy said: “I have known David for a number of years, having first worked for him during the mid-80s when I first launched myself on to the national stage.

“I would like to thank David for making You Must Be joking 2016 happen and for being a great friend and colleague over the years!”

BBC’s Stephen Nolan joins Jimmy’s juggling act! 150 150 mhamer

BBC’s Stephen Nolan joins Jimmy’s juggling act!

BBC radio presenter Stephen Nolan tries a bit of unusual juggling

Jimmy Cricket got a well-known BBC presenter to take part in one of his juggling gags live on air.

The famous comedian  appeared on BBC Northern Ireland’s popular current affairs television show Nolan Live on Wednesday, 3 June.

It is hosted by Stephen Nolan, who is often heard on BBC Radio 5 live presenting the station’s evening programme at the weekend.

Stephen’s show in Northern Ireland is a mix between topical debate and chat – he holds a panel discussion during one part of the programme, with the other section devoted to talking to a special guest.

Jimmy Cricket and Stephen Nolan on BBC Northern Ireland's Nolan Live show

Jimmy did a short performance during his appearance and was joined on stage by Stephen who helped him with one of his juggling sketches.

Stephen then had a short interview with Jimmy, asking him about the contrast between him as a family comedian and other comics who have to resort to more edgy material.

“He also asked me what I was up to and I managed to grab a mention of my upcoming national tour with the Osmonds, which is due to take place in December later this year,” said Jimmy, 69.

Jimmy’s appearance can be watched until the end of June on the BBC’s online playback facility, iPlayer, at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b05xgngj/nolan-live-series-4-episode-4

Jimmy Cricket on Stephen Nolan's Nolan Live show

Fun run poster flags up birthday charity event 150 150 mhamer

Fun run poster flags up birthday charity event

The special poster publicising the charity fun run being organised to mark Jimmy Cricket's 70th birthday in OctoberA special poster has been produced to publicise the 5K charity fun run being organised to mark Jimmy Cricket’s 70th birthday in October.

The event is being arranged in Jimmy’s adopted hometown of Rochdale in Greater Manchester by a seasoned run organiser called Andy O’Sullivan, who is not only associated with the local Rochdale Harriers running club, but who has also been awarded the MBE for all the fundraising he has done over the years.

Famous Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy will turn 70 on 17 October 2015 and his birthday race will take place the following day.

The location of the start will be the Cock & Magpie pub in Whitworth, near Jimmy’s beloved Healey Dell Nature Reserve where he is often spotted walking and taking in the beautiful surroundings.

He will be there in person to start the race off at 11.30am, with the route planned to take in two laps of Cowm Reservoir, ensuring the race will be a true 5K.

Jimmy said:  “A big thank you to Rachel –  one of the charity’s trainee fundraisers – for producing a nice flyer for the event (above right).

“Naturally, I will be on hand to start the race off outside the Cock & Magpie public house and welcome back the winners after two laps of this stunning water feature. I will also hand out the prizes in the Cock & Magpie once all runners are safely back home.”

All proceeds from the fun run will be donated to one of Jimmy’s favourite charities, which is the Francis House Children’s Hospice in Manchester.

The entry fee to join Jimmy on this fun race is £4 to club runners and £6 to all others. An additional £1 will be charged to entrants who turn up on the day. Prizes will be awarded to all race finishers.

For more information and for a copy of the entry form, please contact Andy O’Sullivan at info@andemsrunners.co.uk

Jimmy Cricket to appear on BBC Northern Ireland’s Nolan Live 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket to appear on BBC Northern Ireland’s Nolan Live

Stephen Nolan - Jimmy Cricket is appearing on his BBC radio show

Jimmy Cricket is going to appear on BBC Northern Ireland’s popular current affairs television show Nolan Live on Wednesday, June 3.

It is presented by Stephen Nolan (above) – a name that might be familiar to readers as he is often heard on BBC Radio 5 live presenting the station’s evening programme at the weekend.

Stephen Nolan's programme is called Nolan Live

Stephen’s TV show in Northern Ireland is a mix between topical debate and chat – he holds a panel discussion during one part of the programme, with the other section devoted to talking to a special guest. The first programme in this current series featured Peter Stringfellow,  the British businessman and nightclub owner.

Nolan Live has built a significant share of the viewing audience over several series and is now one of the most popular shows that BBC Northern Ireland produces for its home audience.

Famous entertainer Jimmy said: “Not only will I be having a chat with Stephen about what I am up to currently, but I have also been asked to perform some comedy stand-up and this is an opportunity I’m relishing.”

Burnley FC event raises £10,000 for good causes 150 150 mhamer

Burnley FC event raises £10,000 for good causes

Burnley Football Club

Almost 450 people attended the Pauline Helm Memorial Event at Burnley Football Club, where Jimmy Cricket was one of the entertainers.

The Pauline Helm Memorial Event took place at Burnley Football ClubThe fund-raising gala dinner evening was organised by Pauline’s widower, Graham Helm (pictured below with Jimmy), and was held in one of the club’s main function suites, which was packed to the rafters with almost 450 people there.

It was hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Sally Naden and, apart from Jimmy’s contribution, the entertainment programme also featured Bacup-born international opera singer Sean Ruane (pictured below right with his wife) and music from the excellent band, A few good men.

International opera singer Sean Ruane with his wifeFamous Northern Irish comedian Jimmy said: “The evening raised a magnificent £10,000 in total and this achieved figure was a richly deserved outcome for Graham after all of his efforts over a number of months in the lead-up to the event.”

The money raised will now be split between two great causes, with £7,000 being awarded to the local East Lancashire Hospice and £3,000 going to construct an outdoor performance space for young people in Burnley.

Jimmy Cricket and Graham Helm at the memorial event at Burnley Football Club

Keith Harris: ‘Great showman – we salute you’ 150 150 mhamer

Keith Harris: ‘Great showman – we salute you’

Jimmy Cricket appeared on Keith Harris’s holiday laughter show (with Orville and Cuddles) at the Royal Opera House in the summer of 1982

Jimmy Cricket has been paying tribute in his latest newspaper column to ventriloquist Keith Harris, who died last month.

Keith, who, with his puppet duck Orville, became a regular feature of Saturday night TV in the 1980s, was 67.

He entertained generations of children with his sidekick Orville, a bright green duck who wore a nappy and spoke in a high-pitched voice but couldn’t fly. He also gave life to the popular puppet Cuddles the monkey, whose catchphrase was ‘I hate that duck!’

In addition to fronting The Keith Harris Show on BBC One, he (and Orville) gave private performances at birthday parties for Prince William and his brother Harry, at the request of Diana, Princess of Wales.

His 1982 single, Orville’s Song, was a top five hit, selling more than 400,000 copies.

In his May column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening News, Jimmy says: “Most ventriloquists that are successful discover one dummy that tickles people’s funny bone, but Keith was blessed with two.

“In 1983, holidaymakers were still visiting our summer resorts en masse and Keith’s show was a sellout from start to finish.

“Keith Harris – you weren’t just a superb ventriloquist, you were a great showman and producer.

“We salute you.”

Johnny Vegas to also feature in film 150 150 mhamer

Johnny Vegas to also feature in film

Johnny Vegas is appearing in the Womble film

Famous actor and comedian Johnny Vegas is to appear in the Womble movie, which is being filmed on location in North Wales and also features entertainer Jimmy Cricket. 

St Helens-born Johnny is well known for his appearances in the hit ITV comedy drama Benidorm and also for popping up in adverts for tea brand PG Tips with a stuffed puppet monkey!

His addition to the cast is another major coup for the people behind Womble the movie, as it also includes top comedian Jimmy, 69, who will play himself as a talent contest judge.

The film is about a man called Aloysius Rupert Womble (played by actor and comedian Tom Spencer), who is in his 30s and living with Asperger’s Syndrome in a typical seaside resort town.

Children and adults affected by Asperger’s Syndrome have difficulty with social interactions and exhibit a restricted range of interests and/or repetitive behaviours.

Aloysius’s dream is to become a stand-up comedian. The film is a week-long snapshot of his life as he goes through the trials of living with a cognitive disorder, while dealing with the injustices forced upon him by society and parts of his community.

Over the seven-day period he prepares for the biggest night of his life – a talent show in his local pub.

The film will feature songs from the Beautiful South’s former lead singer Briana Corrigan and American Pie star Thomas Nicholas, as well as a string of original songs written by songwriters especially for the movie.