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Welcome Back from the Storm show taking bookings! 150 150 mhamer

Welcome Back from the Storm show taking bookings!

Welcome back from the storm

Jimmy Cricket is now taking bookings for his music and laughter show, entitled Welcome Back from the Storm.

The popular Northern Irish comedian hopes the current vaccination programme means live performances will be back on the cards sooner rather than later.

Jimmy will offer his usual unoffensive brand of comedy, with wife May Marion (her stage name) providing the perfect music accompaniment with her singing.

His message to all theatre managers is that Welcome Back from the Storm is now taking bookings for 2021/22.

He tells them: “Just ring us on 01706 353545 or 01706 412552.”

Theatres and other entertainment venues have had to close for most of the time during the past 12 months because of the coronavirus pandemic.

However, more than 15 million people in the UK have now had their first coronavirus vaccine.

It has lifted hopes that some or many of the current restrictions will be lifted by Easter.

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A while ago, Jimmy came up with a perfect ditty to keep our spirits going during the latest lockdown.

The famous funnyman adapted the words of an old war-time favourite, Roll out the Barrel.

And he recorded his very own version on YouTube, called Roll out the Vaccine, which can be heard here.

It’s in reference to the roll-out of the various vaccines designed to protect people against coronavirus.

The UK government says every adult in the country will get the offer of a coronavirus vaccine by autumn this year.

Roll out the Barrel was particularly popular worldwide during World War II.

According to Wikipedia, Czech musician Jaromír Vejvoda composed the music in 1927.

It is also known as Beer Barrel Polka and The Barrel Polka.

Wikipedia said many others recorded and played the song.

They included The Andrews Sisters in the Glenn Miller OrchestraBenny GoodmanBobby Vinton and Billie Holiday.

It added: “During World War II, versions in many other languages were created and the song was popular among soldiers, regardless of their allegiances.

“The authors of the English lyrics were Lew Brown and Wladimir Timm.”

So, folks, Jimmy and May want us all to call up his vaccine version now and have a good old sing-along to it!

Jimmy’s Roll out the Vaccine song

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

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.

Filming under way for Womble movie 150 150 mhamer

Filming under way for Womble movie

Jimmy Cricket with Tom Spencer and actresses Gemma Jones and Georgina Ford

Jimmy with Tom, Gemma and Georgina

Filming for the Womble movie in which Jimmy Cricket will play himself is now under way.

Famous entertainer Jimmy’s cameo role will be filmed on location in North Wales in June and he was recently involved in a photo shoot alongside the central character Womble, played by actor Tom Spencer.

Also at the promotional event, which was held at the Bojangles Theatre, home to the Middleton Popstars Academy in North Manchester, were director Lee Howard, co-writer and actress Gemma Jones, and fellow actress Georgina Ford.

Jimmy said: “I was very grateful to Anne (Marshall, director) and the Popstars organisation for hosting this activity and I am very excited about returning to the theatre later in the year for a show with the Popstars on Saturday the 11th of July.”

The film is about a man called Aloysius Rupert Womble (played by actor and comedian Tom), 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.

It 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.

Top comedian Jimmy, 69, will play himself as a talent contest judge.

Jimmy Cricket and Tom Spencer

My movie debut – as a dream maker 150 150 mhamer

My movie debut – as a dream maker

Jimmy Cricket's column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket says he is looking forward to his role as a talent show judge on his  forthcoming silver screen debut.

But the famous veteran entertainer insists he will not be like Simon Cowell in The X Factor, telling readers of the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post in his monthly column he will be a “dream maker, not a dream breaker”.

Womble, one of the biggest independent movies to be made in North Wales, is being shot over the summer and will be set for release in 2016.

It 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.

Jimmy says in the Lancashire Evening Post: “Hopefully, the film will be shown in 2016 at the Cannes Film Festival.”

‘Man in wellies & battered hat saves the day’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Man in wellies & battered hat saves the day’

Jimmy Cricket's latest column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket has been reminiscing about the era of the comedy song and how he hopes he has helped keep it alive.

In his latest column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post, the famous entertainer recalls “the many comedy and novelty songs that used to permeate the airwaves in the 50s and 60s”.

He adds: “Commercial radio stations all have playlists now. This means they only play songs that appeal to younger audiences , which companies who advertise with them deem to be possible customers. That’s how the commercial radio stations make their money.

Jimmy Cricket's Light & Shade

“However, you can still hear comedy and novelty songs on BBC radio stations, especially on their request shows.

“However, fear not dear readers.

“Just when you thought the comedy song was a footnote in the history of popular music, along comes the man in the wellies and the battered hat to save the day!

“Yes, my new CD called Light & Shade contains gems like ‘my budgie’s been tweeting for years’ and ‘I got blotto when I thought I’d won the lotto’.”

Light & Shade was officially released on 1 February and is available for £6 at www.jimmycricketshop.co.uk and at Jimmy’s live shows.

In the inside sleeve, Jimmy talks about the history behind the CD, which features a mixture of serious and comedy songs.