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olympic

Christmas card features stolen wellies 150 150 mhamer

Christmas card features stolen wellies

Jimmy Cricket's Christmas cardJimmy Cricket’s latest Christmas card is based on his concrete wellies which were stolen last summer.

And the specially designed card is the subject of a story in his local newspaper, the Rochdale Observer.

The concrete wellies, which had been given to Rochdale-based Jimmy as a 50th birthday present by fellow comedian Ken Dodd, were taken from his garden in Shawclough.

Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy is famous for wearing wellingtons, marked with the letters R and L on the wrong feet, during his acts.

He said at the time of the theft that the concrete wellies were of “high sentimental value”.

The BBC, ITV, the Rochdale Observer and several radio stations were among many media organisations to report on the crime.

Saturday’s edition (21 December) of the Observer features Jimmy’s 2013 Christmas card (above right) which has him appealing to Santa Claus to retrieve his wellies and put them under his Christmas tree on the big day (see image below).

The Belfast-born funnyman used the inspiration of London 2012 when it came to designing last year’s Christmas card, which featured Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Mo Farah.

* Jimmy, who is currently appearing in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Forum Theatre in Billingham near Middlesbrough, wishes everybody a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Jimmy Cricket's Christmas card which features in the Rochdale Observer

Christmas greetings with Usain and Mo 150 150 mhamer

Christmas greetings with Usain and Mo

Usain Bolt and Mo Farah on Jimmy Cricket's Christmas card

Jimmy Cricket used the inspiration of the London Olympics when it came to designing his 2012 Christmas card.

Olympic champions Usain Bolt and Mo Farah feature on the front cover of the cards he has started sending out to friends.

The famous Irish comedian says: “Each year at Christmas time, I think of a topical idea to base the front of my Christmas cards on.

“Each Christmas card design has usually involved a big news event of the preceding year, with me pictured in the middle and passing the odd comedy quip or two!

“Clearly the big event of this year has been the London Olympics, so I thought of an idea which would feature me alongside two of arguably the biggest stars from the games, Usain Bolt and Mo Farah.”

Jimmy has even managed to get into the composition of this year’s Christmas card design the much talked about poses for which these athletes are famous.

Jamaica’s Bolt defended his 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay crowns at the London 2012 Olympics, while in winning the 10,000m Team GB’s Farah became the first Briton to ever win a distance gold at an Olympics before adding the 5,000m title exactly a week later to join a select band of greats to have completed the long-distance double.

Article recalls Olympic show 150 150 mhamer

Article recalls Olympic show
Eastbourne Herald article about Jimmy Cricket on ITV's Daybreak breakfast programme

The article in the Eastbourne Herald newspaper about Jimmy Cricket on ITV's Daybreak breakfast show

A newspaper has reported on Jimmy Cricket’s live appearance earlier this month on ITV.

The Irish comedian was interviewed by presenter Gethin Jones on the breakfast show, Daybreak, 10 days ago.

Alongside him were fellow entertainers in Sentimental Journey, the family extravaganza running at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex, from 1 May to 26 September.

The programme was celebrating the journey of the Olympic Torch through the town of Eastbourne ahead of London 2012 which officially starts later today.

An article about the occasion, including Jimmy’s appearance, was published in the Eastbourne Herald.

VIDEO: Watch Jimmy with Gethin on Daybreak here.

* Performances for Sentimental Journey are at 8.15 each Tuesday and Wednesday night throughout the summer. Tickets cost £12 and £17 – go here for more information.

Getting into the spirit for London 2012 150 150 mhamer

Getting into the spirit for London 2012
The grand finale featured all the show's participants who were representing all the many dance schools

The grand finale featured all the show's participants who were representing the many dance schools

Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket got into the Olympic spirit when he compered a dance spectacular celebrating the forthcoming London Games.

The famous funnyman was asked to front up the special show which marked the Olympic Torch coming to Southport ahead of London 2012.

Programme front page for the Olympic dance event

Programme front page

It was staged at the Southport Theatre and organised by the Liverpool-based Allied Dancing Association Limited.

Former Olympic gold medallist Dame Mary Elizabeth Peters was a special guest at the event.

The 19 dance schools which took part in the show were: Garswood School of Dance, Vibe Stage Academy, The Stage School, Harlequin Dance Club, Formby School of Dance, Dance Flava, Claire Knight School of Dance, Martins Dance Centre, Excelsior School of Dance, Phoenix School of Dance, Dance Depot, Liverpool Theatre School, Felicia Burns School of Dance, Chriska Stage School, Marshside School of Dance, Southport School of Dance, Crown Dance School, Jade School of Dance and Dance Passion.

Jimmy Cricket on stage

Jimmy on stage

The general secretary of Allied Dancing Association, Carol Parry, invited Jimmy to host the show. They first met last Christmas during Jimmy’s pantomime season at the Civic Theatre in Darlington. Carol’s daughter, Melissa, featured in the Southport Theatre show as a dancer.

Jimmy says: “This was a spectacular show and my hats off to all the organisers of this event for all the hard work they put into it.

“Special praise to one of the principal organisers, Carol Parry, as she was a real driving force behind the show and she worked tirelessly to ensure it was a huge success!”

Photos for this story were taken by Alan at Photos2U