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Christmas carol service with a difference 150 150 mhamer

Christmas carol service with a difference

Jimmy Cricket is starring in a Christmas carol service with a comedy twist.

The difference between this carol service, which will be broadcast on BBC Radio Lancashire at noon on Christmas Eve, and a conventional one is that this version features comedians who intersperse the music and singing with sprinklings of humour.

The BBC Radio Lancashire carol service includes Jimmy Cricket, Steve Royle, Danny Pensive and Tony Vino

Also involved with famous entertainer Jimmy is BBC Radio Lancs comedian and presenter Steve Royle, alongside comics Danny Pensive and Tony Vino.

The carol service was recorded at the Roman Catholic church in the East Lancashire town of Clitheroe where Jimmy’s son, Fr Frankie Mulgrew, is based.

Fr Frankie did a reading alongside the Parish Priest at St Michael and St John’s RC Church, Fr John. Pictured is the front page of the order of service.

It includes all the classic carols one would expect for such a service, like Ding Dong Merrily on High, Silent Night and We Three Kings.

Jimmy will be listening to the programme on Christmas Eve – in between his 10:15am and 1:30pm performances of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Charter Theatre in Preston.

The panto, which opened last week and runs through to 3 January,  is a straight transfer from a hugely successful show, which was hosted at the Billingham Forum Theatre in Stockton-On-Tees last year.

Tickets are very affordable for all the family and the show schedule has a range of options, including morning, afternoon and early evening performances.

For more details and to book online, please visit the theatre’s website.

And the latest Golden Wellie winner is… 150 150 mhamer

And the latest Golden Wellie winner is…

Jimmy Cricket’s latest Golden Wellington award has been presented to Danny Tujeshyn, who manages the restaurant at the Royal Toby Hotel in Castleton, Rochdale.

The famous entertainer decided to recognise the great hospitality and service Danny has provided to all who have been to the restaurant over the years, and also for all the assistance he has provided in helping the venue to host the Wooden Hut Club.

The club – of which Jimmy is a member – is a regular lunchtime get-together for the show business fraternity in the north of England.

Jimmy Cricket with Royal Toby manager Danny Tujeshyn

As Jimmy is a founding member, it just happened the club started meeting at the Royal Toby because of its proximity to the M62 motorway.

From its first convening several years ago, the club continues to meet at least six times a year at the Royal Toby restaurant and for its Christmas gathering it puts on a festive show for the elderly population of Rochdale.

Over the years, these lunchtime get togethers have featured notable performers such as Bernie Clifton, Graham Grumbleweed, Johnny Casson, Smug Roberts, John Henshall, Arthur Bostrom, Buzz Hawkins, Fred Fielder, Freddy ‘Parrot Face’ Davies and many more.

The latest club gathering was during the afternoon of Tuesday 21 October and Jimmy used the opportunity to thank in front of club members Danny’s contribution in helping to organise these luncheon events.

He also awarded Danny with the October Golden Wellington award (picture above).

Jimmy said: “I have been going to the Royal Toby restaurant for years, ever since I moved into Rochdale in the mid 1970s.

“It is my favourite restaurant because I am a fan of good food and good service. A lot of the latter has been down to how the restaurant has been run over the years and Danny has been a tremendous manager.

“When we started these Wooden Hut Club lunches several years ago, Danny was happy to host them – to the point where club members view the restaurant as its official home, even though we now have guests travelling over from as far as Chesterfield and Chester.

“This means there is no push to move the luncheon club to a venue in Manchester or Leeds as Danny always makes us feel very welcome and can be spotted wearing one of our Wooden Hut club badges!”

Jimmy Cricket’s stolen wellies hit the headlines 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket’s stolen wellies hit the headlines

The Rochdale Observer reported the theft of the wellies given by Ken Dodd to Jimmy CricketThe theft of concrete wellington boots given to Rochdale-based Jimmy Cricket by fellow comedian Ken Dodd has certainly attracted the attention of the media.

The wellies were given by Ken Dodd to Jimmy Cricket

Ken gave the sculpture (right) as a 50th birthday present to 67-year-old Jimmy who said he was “gutted” about the theft from his garden on Monday night.

As well as featuring catchphrases like “come closer!” and “…and there’s more!” in his act, Northern Irishman Jimmy is also famous for wearing wellingtons marked with the letters R and L, but on the wrong feet, on stage.

The story of the theft of the wellies, which were given by Ken Dodd to Jimmy Cricket, featured on the front page of the Rochdale ObserverHe said the concrete wellies were of “high sentimental value”.

Greater Manchester Police said they were investigating the incident.

The BBC, ITV, the Rochdale Observer (see images with this story) and several radio stations were among the many media organisations to report on the crime.

Tribute to a friend and a legend 150 150 mhamer

Tribute to a friend and a legend

Jimmy Cricket pays tribute to Eddie Braben in the Rochdale ObserverJimmy Cricket has paid tribute to legendary comedy writer Eddie Braben who has died aged 82.

Edwin ‘Eddie’ Charles Braben was an English writer and performer best known for providing material for Morecambe and Wise. He also worked for David Frost, Ronnie Corbett and Ken Dodd.

He was credited with changing the profile of Morecambe and Wise, helping to turn them into one of the most popular and enduring comedy acts in the history of British entertainment.

Belfast-born entertainer Jimmy, who has lived in Rochdale for many years, started working with Eddie on his TV show, And There’s More, in the 1980s and 90s, and then his radio show, Jimmy’s Cricket Show.

They developed a lasting friendship and Jimmy recalled: “He was so funny, even in his hospital bed, and had this incredible surreal sense of humour.

“Eddie was a wonderful radio writer, as it was more relaxing for him rather than having to do the Christmas specials for 28 million people.”

A full tribute from Jimmy appeared in the Rochdale Observer (above is a copy of the article).

Maloney’s Big Moment 150 150 mhamer

Maloney’s Big Moment

Cast in Maloney's Big Moment: Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner, Sarah Groarke-Booth and Jimmy CricketA newspaper story about a Spanish coastal town electing an English ex-pat as its mayor inspired top entertainer Jimmy Cricket to write a new radio play.

And Maloney’s Big Moment got its first public showing in front of a live audience at St Vincent’s Parish Centre in Rochdale.

Famous comedian Jimmy wrote the play after seeing the article and thinking it was a really fascinating scenario, especially as the elected candidate did not have a particular good grasp of Spanish!Radio producer Roger Neale

Joining Jimmy for the recording in early April was a host of locally based actors and actresses.

These included Colin Meredith, Cyril Walker, Katie Mulgrew (Jimmy’s daughter who is a stand-up comedian), Russell Richardson, Mark Whiteley, Steve Garner and Sarah Groarke-Booth (all the cast are in the photo above), alongside the production team of Gerry Coates and Roger Neale.

Roger Neale (right) came all the way from Mansfield to help out with the production of the play.

Gerry Coates, from the internet Catholic radio station called Heart Gives unto Heart, and Jimmy between them made the production happen.

Interestingly, the new radio station has been acquired by the national Catholic newspaper called The Universe and will now become a division under this paper’s banner.

It is hoped during the relaunch of the station that this radio play will feature prominently in the opening week’s schedule – watch out for further details on this website.

:: Thanks to John Kay for providing these two great photos from this event.

With a little help from my friends… 150 150 mhamer

With a little help from my friends…
Jimmy Cricket with Linda, Phil, May, Gloria, Eric and Linda

Jimmy with Linda, Phil, May, Gloria, Eric and Linda

Jimmy Cricket arranged a post-Christmas get-together for friends who have helped him a lot during the past 12 months.

The famous Irish comedian and his wife May invited the trio and their wives along to a local carvery restaurant in his hometown of Rochdale.

They included Phil Collinge, who is an excellent and experienced producer for an independent radio production company called Made in Manchester. He is working currently on a documentary about the history of comedy for BBC Radio and, guess what, Jimmy has already been interviewed for the series!

Eric Devereaux, who had one of the finest reputations on the Manchester club scene for his compere skills and his crooning abilities, has been helping Jimmy with his monthly JAM nights in Rochdale, which have been a huge success.

And Tony has been the main technical support for the JAM nights, where performers could come along and test out their repertoire in front of a warm and receptive audience.

Jimmy said: “I used the meal as a gesture of my gratitude and thought the pictures have turned out really well!”

Jimmy Cricket with Phil, May, Eric, Tony, Linda and Gloria

Jimmy with Phil, May, Eric, Tony, Linda and Gloria

Back to Belfast 150 150 mhamer

Back to Belfast
Jimmy Cricket and Gerry Kelly

Jimmy Cricket and Gerry Kelly

Jimmy Cricket returned to his roots recently.

The well-known Belfast-born comic went back to his native city to watch a musical and do a phone-in on a radio show.

He explained: “We received some photos from the foyer of the Grand Opera House in Belfast where I went to see my grand niece in the musical Annie.

“I’m pictured with famous Northern Ireland television and radio presenter Gerry Kelly. I was doing a live phone-in on Gerry’s very popular radio series. Before going into the media Gerry studied to be a teacher in Heywood.”

Jimmy is also pictured with members of the amateur dramatics society.

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