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Jimmy’s Christmas card features Beckham & co 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy’s Christmas card features Beckham & co

Jimmy Cricket’s 2014 Christmas card features a sketch which took place during this year’s Comic Relief event.

Jimmy Cricket's Christmas card features the Only Fools and Horses’ sketch staring regular cast members David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, plus special Comic Relief guest David Beckham

The card recalls the Only Fools and Horses charity scene starring regular cast members David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, plus former England and Manchester United footballer David Beckham.

Famous entertainer Jimmy is included on the card as if he is part of the get-together, and even has the chance to reference his ever-present Mammy!

The Northern Irish comedian has traditionally created his own customised Christmas card based on a topical photo that has represented in some way an event from the previous 12 months.

In 2012 he picked a picture of Usain Bolt and Mo Farah, which was one of the iconic images from the London Olympics.

And last year it was a photo associated with the theft of his concrete wellies, which was widely covered in the media.

Jimmy said: “Hopefully the recipients of this year’s Christmas card will also have a chuckle at the card!”

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

2012 – we look back at the highlights 150 150 mhamer

2012 – we look back at the highlights
Jimmy Cricket played Baron Hardup in panto with Dancing on Ice star Ray Quinn as Prince Charming

Jimmy was Baron Hardup in panto with Dancing on Ice’s Ray Quinn Prince Charming

Jimmy has had another busy year and as usual he has travelled the length and breadth of the country to meet his touring commitments throughout 2012.

Some of the highlights of the past 12 months include:

– At the start of the year appearing as Baron Hardup in a pantomime version of Cinderella at the Civic Theatre in Darlington

– Headlining the summer show at the Hippodrome Theatre, Eastbourne, which ran for five months and was presented every Tuesday and Wednesday evening from the first week of May through to the end of September

– Featuring in a northern comedy tour alongside the inimitable Mick Miller

– Appearing at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the Sheffield Comedy festival and the new Belly Laughs Belfast comedy festival

– Travelling to venues in Guernsey, Cromer, Torquay, Bridlington, Carlisle, Towyn and Glasgow – to name just a few of the different places visited

– Appearing in BBC 3’s Comedy Marathon which was recorded at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival

– Participating in a recording of the new Sky TV comedy series called John Bishop’s Only Joking

Jimmy said: “I would like to thank all those who came to one of my shows this year or who have bought one of my merchandise items.

“Also thanks to anyone who has followed me on Twitter, decided to be a friend on Facebook or who has viewed one of my clips on YouTube.

“Thanks you all for your continuing support and I hope to see you in 2013!”

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.

Rocking around the clock (on the beach) 150 150 mhamer

Rocking around the clock (on the beach)
Famous funnyman Jimmy Cricket met professional organist Chris Mannion in Eastbourne

Jimmy Cricket met professional organist Chris Mannion in Eastbourne

Jimmy Cricket had them rocking around the clock on the beach this summer!

The famous Irish comedian has recalled the occasion he met professional organist Chris Mannion.

It was on the day that Jimmy appeared live on ITV’s breakfast show, Daybreak, in Eastbourne on the south coast.

“Chris was playing his keyboard as part of the outside broadcast when I arrived on the scene and got the assembled crowd to sing Rock Around The Clock,” laughs Jimmy.

“Chris is a professional organist and is very accomplished. He not only plays at various concerts in Eastbourne, where he lives, but he is much in demand across the country and this extends to playing engagements on cruise ships.

“He is not just a talented person, but a really lovely guy as well.”

Find out more about Chris at http://www.chris-mannion.co.uk.

Jimmy was in Eastbourne two days a week during the summer, starring in Sentimental Journey, which ran at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in the East Sussex town until 26 September.

Jimmy appears live on television 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy appears live on television
Daybreak presenter Gethin Jones (left) with Billy Fury tribute act Colin Gold (centre) and Jimmy

Daybreak presenter Gethin Jones (left) with Billy Fury tribute act Colin Gold (centre) and JimmyCricket

Jimmy Cricket returned to the “small screen” today.

The famous Irish comedian,  who has made many television appearances over the past few decades and had his own series on Central Television in the mid-1980s called And There’s More, appeared live on ITV’s breakfast show, Daybreak.

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.

Jimmy said: “Today the Olympic Torch journeyed through the town of Eastbourne.

“Daybreak had both weather and magazine inserts broadcast live from the resort to mark not only the torch event, but to also feature the British seaside resort as we head into the school summer holidays.”

The presenter who interviewed Jimmy was Daybreak’s Gethin Jones who was previously on the BBC’s Blue Peter. He joined the breakfast show back in May this year.

Jimmy, who told a couple of jokes live on air, was introduced by Gethin as “the legend that is Jimmy Cricket”.

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.

Jimmy Cricket on ITV's Daybreak with singers Colin Gold and Tracy Lea in Eastbourne

Jimmy Cricket on ITV's Daybreak with singers Colin Gold and Tracy Lea (Connie Francis tribute act)

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

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