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singing

‘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.

A special guest on tour of world-famous Osmonds 150 150 mhamer

A special guest on tour of world-famous Osmonds

Jimmy Cricket will be teaming up with the world-famous Osmonds for a special Christmas tour later this year

Jimmy Cricket is teaming up with several of the world-famous Osmonds for a special tour of the UK later this year.

The well-known Northern Irishman comedian will be a special guest for the series of shows, called the Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular, throughout the month of December.

The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied history as star performers.

They started their musical careers as children and achieved further success as teen-music idols, going on to produce a hit television show and also perform as solo and group artists.

The Osmonds group first comprised brothers Alan, Wayne, Merril and Jay Osmond. They were later joined by younger siblings Donny – the most famous of all of them – and Jimmy. Their only sister Marie, who rarely sang with her brothers at that time, launched a successful solo career in 1973.

Jimmy said: “The month of December has traditionally meant pantomime time and this tour will be quite a departure for me.

“Nonetheless, it is an exciting prospect and I cannot wait to team up with the Osmonds, who have a global following and reputation.

“Although I love the art form of pantomime and the attraction it holds for children and families, I have thought for some time that there should be an alternative offering out there over the Christmas period.

“This show fits the bill perfectly and the atmosphere at each venue will be so uplifting that those in attendance will definitely leave in the Christmas spirit!”

Tickets for the tour will go on pre-sale from Wednesday morning (March 25), with tickets on general sale from Friday.

Full list of dates and venues for the Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular are as follows:

DECEMBER

TUES 8 – MALVERN Theatres 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

WED 9 – GUILDFORD G Live 0844 7701 797 www.GLive.co.uk

THURS 10 – WORTHING Assembly Hall 01903 206206 www.worthingtheatres.co.uk

FRI 11 – HARROGATE International Centre 01423 502116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

SAT 12 – CROYDON Fairfield Halls 020 8688 9291 www.fairfield.co.uk

SUN 13 – WATFORD Colosseum 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

MON 14 – MARGATE Winter Gardens 01843 292795 www.margatewintergardens.co.uk

TUES 15 – EASTBOURNE Congress Theatre 01323 412000 www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

WED 16 – LONDON Indigo2 08448 244824 www.axs.com

THURS 17 – WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall 0870 320 7000 www.wolvescivic.co.uk

FRI 18 – BRADFORD St George’s Hall 01274 432000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

SAT 19 – BURNLEY Mechanics Theatre 01282 664400 www.burnleymechanics.co.uk

SUN 20 – NEWCASTLE City Hall 0191 277 8030 www.newcastlecityhall.org

MON 21 – EDINBURGH Queens Theatre 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net

TUES 22 – CHESTERFIELD Winding Wheel 01246 345222 www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

The tour is promoted by Tony Denton Promotions and  for more information about the show and for links to each individual venue, please go to the Tony Denton Promotions website at www.tdpromo.com

The Irish comedian & the Midlands crooner 150 150 mhamer

The Irish comedian & the Midlands crooner

Jimmy Cricket joins Michael George at the Concordia Theatre Hinckley in Leciestershire on Saturday 23 MayJimmy Cricket has been asked to team up with Midlands crooner Michael George for two special shows in May.

It will mean an evening of great swing music combined with Jimmy’s inimitable style of comedy. There will also be a live band and some great support acts lined up.

One production will be at the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley, Leicestershire, near to where singer Michael George is based. In fact, it is becoming an annual tradition for him to bring a show to the Concordia Theatre as this is the third time he will do so.

Each of the previous two shows have been very well attended, so everyone is expecting a packed auditorium when Jimmy joins Michael for this year’s version on Saturday 23 May.

Virtually the same production will visit the Trinity Arts centre in Gainsborough a week before the Concordia one as both Michael and Jimmy head there on Saturday 16 May.

‘Great chance to support live entertainment’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Great chance to support live entertainment’

Jimmy Cricket will appear alongside  Andy Eastwood at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, on Sunday 19 AprilJimmy Cricket is set to team up again with friend and multi-talented entertainer Andy Eastwood, who can do a “great George Formby tribute act”.

The famous comedian will appear alongside  Andy at the De La Warr Pavilion in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex, on Sunday 19 April.

The show is being presented by the local Bexhill Festival of Music Society, which is led by  Tony Mansi.

Jimmy has worked with Andy on numerous occasions in the past and continues to be in awe of his musical talents.

“Not only can Andy do a great George Formby tribute, but he is no mean musician with the ability to play several instruments at an incredibly high standard, including the violin and ukulele – plus many more,” said Jimmy.

“Tony has put together a great early evening’s entertainment programme, with the show due to start off at the very family friendly time of 5pm.

“This will be a great post-Easter opportunity to support live entertainment if you live on the south coast around the East Sussex shoreline.”

Wigan-born George Formby was an actor, singer-songwriter and comedian, who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s.

On stage, screen and record he sang light, comical songs, usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the UK’s highest-paid entertainer.

Jimmy’s visit to Popstars Academy – in pictures 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy’s visit to Popstars Academy – in pictures

Watch a special photo slideshow of Jimmy Cricket’s visit to Middleton Popstars Academy in North Manchester.

The well-known comedian met youngsters involved in performance and dance activities as well as music and event production.

And he returns to see the Popstars team on 11 July to appear at their Bojangles Theatre, where he will act as the show’s host as they present some of their best routines.

For tickets to see the event, please ring the Popstars on 0161 653 7747.

To play the slideshow, click on either of the arrow buttons above (note that there is no sound). You can view it in fullscreen by clicking on the diamond shape on the bottom right-hand side of the feature. 

Teaming up with talented young entertainers 150 150 mhamer

Teaming up with talented young entertainers

Jimmy Cricket appeared at Middleton Popstars Academy
Jimmy Cricket’s meeting earlier this month with a group of talented young people was covered in the local press.

The 19 February edition of the Middleton Guardian reported on famous entertainer Jimmy’s visit to the Middleton Popstars Academy in North Manchester.

Jimmy Cricket appeared at Middleton Popstars Academy

He met youngsters who were involved in not just performance and dance activities, but also in music and event production.

His visit went so well that he will return to the Popstars base on the evening of 11 July to appear at their Bojangles Theatre.

It should be a great night’s entertainment with Jimmy set to act as the show’s host for the Popstars, who will be presenting some of their best routines.

For tickets to the event, please ring the Popstars on 0161 653 7747.

The 90-seater Bojangles Theatre on Morton Street in Middleton town centre officially opened in February last year and cost £75,000 to build.

The name was chosen to honour former student Jack McLean, who wowed audiences with his rendition of Mr Bojangles before his death three years ago.

‘Honoured’ to perform at 80th birthday party 150 150 mhamer

‘Honoured’ to perform at 80th birthday party

Jimmy Cricket and friends

Famous comedian Jimmy Cricket was a special performing guest at an 80th birthday party recently.

Jimmy Cricket performing

The event was held  for Sheila Selby at Haydock conservative Club at the end of January.

Jimmy, who provided the entertainment, said: “I was honoured to have participated in this special event.

“I was also thrilled to have met both Sheila and her husband, who had been together in marriage for a total of 61 years!”

The photographs were taken by Fred Carter.

Jimmy Cricket and friends