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royal hippodrome

From seaside show to Irish festival 150 150 mhamer

From seaside show to Irish festival

Jimmy Cricket with a family who had come to see the show. They are: Ali O’ Grady, her husband and mother-in-law

Jimmy Cricket recently returned to perform in Eastbourne – where he spent much of the 2012 summer season.

The famous Irish entertainer was back at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre doing his popular stand-up comedy show.

May Cricket, whose showbusiness name is May MarionJimmy (below) and his wife, May, (right) – who performed as the female vocalist May Marion – can both be seen in their dressing rooms getting ready for the show.

May is often Jimmy’s main supporting artist when he is touring the length and breadth of the UK.

Top, Jimmy is pictured with some members of the audience – Ali O’ Grady, and her husband and mother-in-law – in the theatre foyer after the evening’s performance.

All photos are courtesy of Jimmy’s great friend, Gerry Molumby, who had come to see Jimmy at Eastbourne and also arranged for him to appear at this year’s Crawley Irish Festival the following day.

Both Jimmy and Gerry stayed at the Marine Parade Hotel after the show, which is owned by Jimmy’s close friends, Jerome and Carol, and is just around the corner from the theatre.

Jimmy Cricket

Returning to 2012 summer season venue 150 150 mhamer

Returning to 2012 summer season venue

Eastbourne Herald article featuring Jimmy Cricket's return to the Royal Hippodrome TheatreJimmy Cricket is returning to the scene of his 2012 summer season to do his stand-up comedy show at the weekend.

The famous Irish entertainer will perform at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne on Saturday (20 September), two years after his last appearance there.

He was featured earlier this month in the Eastbourne Herald (article clipping above), which read: “This entertainer never stops updating and creating new material.”

The newspaper mentions that Jimmy has just released a song, I was bit by Luis Suarez, which is based on the former Liverpool striker who was banned for four months during this summer’s World Cup for biting an opponent.

Jimmy said: “I am looking forward to seeing the many friends I made during that summer season.

“In fact, these friends have gone on to form a community interest company to manage the Royal Hippodrome Theatre, as the local council were looking for someone to take on this role for them.”

They include Jerome and Carole who own and run the Marine Parade Hotel and Darren Weir who owns the Mowbray Hotel.

Another friend Jimmy will be seeing again is Mike Lee, who is also a partner in the management consortium.

Jimmy said: “Mike is a superb singer who performs a tribute to the great Matt Munroe. I have invited him to appear on my show and am delighted he has agreed!”

To watch the video of I was bit by Luis Suarez, go to the homepage of this website or visit Jimmy’s video channel at YouTube.

And you can pre-order I was bit by Luis Suarez at iTunes.

For all the latest updates on the song and on Jimmy’s schedule and thoughts, go to his Twitter page.

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.

It’s Showtime! 150 150 mhamer

It’s Showtime!
A train forms the backdrop for all the performers in Sentimental Journey

A train forms the backdrop for all the performers in Sentimental Journey at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre

A railway station is the nostalgic setting for a variety summer show starring comedian Jimmy Cricket.

The Belfast-born funnyman has since May been appearing in Sentimental Journey to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex.

Entertainers Mike Lee and Barry Moon

Entertainers Mike Lee and Barry Moon

The story goes that a train has broken down at the Royal Hippodrome station  so, while everyone waits for it to be repaired, the station master and “the man from head office” arrange some entertainment to keep people amused.

It transports the audience back to an era when a small company of talented individuals would sing, dance and tell jokes.

For a video slideshow of the performers from the show, visit Jimmy’s homepage here or go to the Wellie Boot channel on YouTube.

The host for the evening is the singer Mike Lee, who plays the train’s inspector, and at the start of the show he bumps into the train’s conductor – none other than the talented impressionist Barry Moon.

Barry Moon sings at the Hippodrome

Barry Moon sings at the Royal Hippodrome

Jimmy Cricket said: “Both Barry and Mike are also the show’s producers and they have done a great job at putting this show together.”

The Showtime Dancers in Sentimental Journey are Nick, Jo, Lauren and Janine.

Also appearing are world-renowned tribute acts Colin Gold and Tracy Lea.

Colin, who starred on ITV’s Stars in Their Eyes, has gone on to become one of the most experienced and acclaimed Billy Fury acts in the world. Halfway to Paradise was one of Fury’s best-known songs.

Tracy Lee and dancers Nick, Jo, Lauren and Janine

Tracy Lee & dancers Nick, Jo, Lauren & Janine

Connie Francis’ greatest hits included Who’s Sorry Now, Lipstick on Your Collar and Stupid Cupid. Tracy also appeared on Stars in Their Eyes, a British television talent show screened on Saturday nights from 21 July 1990 to 23 December 2006 in which contestants impersonated showbiz stars.

Jimmy, Colin and Tracy recently appeared live in Eastbourne on ITV’s breakfast show, Daybreak.

* 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.

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.

Catching up on old times 150 150 mhamer

Catching up on old times

Old friends Jimmy Cricket and Jacqui Ridler meet up again

Jimmy Cricket met up with an old friend while appearing in his summer show on the south coast.

The famous comedian is currently starring in Sentimental Journey, the family extravaganza running at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex, every Tuesday and Wednesday evening until 26 September.

Jimmy Cricket and Jacqui Ridler

And it was there he caught up with Jacqui Ridler (formerly Jacqui Munroe) whom Jimmy has known since the 1970s.

They first met when Jimmy worked the holiday park circuit in Torbay where Jacqui was a Bluecoat.

Jacqui herself is from Torquay and her mum ran a hotel in the resort for a long time. In fact, Jimmy stayed at the hotel in 1994 when he was appearing at the Festival Theatre in Paignton.

She now lives in Eastbourne with her husband and thought she should pop along and catch up with Jimmy.

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)

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