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Show business? More like monkey business! 150 150 mhamer

Show business? More like monkey business!

A planned television sketch starring Jimmy Cricket  alongside a chimpanzee ended being simply monkey business!A planned television sketch starring Jimmy Cricket alongside a chimpanzee made a monkey out of the producer!

Comedian Jimmy tells the funny story in his latest newspaper column.

Writing in the Lancashire Evening Post, Jimmy says…

My past may not have been murky, but it certainly got a bit muddled at times.

In the early 90s I hosted a children’s TV series called The Joke Machine, produced by an ITV regional company at the time called Border Television.

Previous hosts had been The Krankies and Stu Francis and the series did exactly what it said on the tin – we went round schools, in the Carlisle area, asking the boys and girls to tell their favourite jokes to camera.

Then we invited the schools in question to the studio, where I performed sketches with guest artistes, to add a bit of variety to the mix.

I remember a boxer sketch with a famous fighter of that time called John Conteh and another one where TV comedy actor Paul Shane who played Ted Bovis in the hit TV comedy sit com Hi-de-Hi! and I dressed up in budgie costumes… as you do.

Our producer, Henry, approached me one day to say he’d booked a chimp to do a sketch with me.

Yes, you heard right readers – chimp as in chimpanzee.

“What exactly is the concept of the sketch, Henry?” I enquired.

“We don’t need a concept,” retorted Henry.

Unbounded enthusiasm

“Chimps are naturally funny. They steal every show they go on

“Remember those Tarzan movies we saw in the cinemas when we were kids.

“His best friend was a chimp called Cheetah. He was hilarious, he even had his own fan club!”

Henry’s unbounded enthusiasm washed away all my scepticism and he finished by saying: “We’ll put you and the chimp together at a table, put a few snacks in front of you both and let the cameras roll.”

On the day of the shoot, the chimp turned up very dapperly dressed in his trousers, braces, and T-shirt with his minder who placed him beside me at the table and Henry shouted “action, roll ’em!”

So, what happened, I hear you saying to yourselves.

Well, absolutely nothing happened.

The chimp just sat there staring at me and I stared straight back at him.

Bunch of bananas

After five minutes of this deafening silence, Henry rushed out of his director’s box and on to the studio floor barking instructions at me.

“Pinch one of his biscuits! Tickle his toes!”

All of which I duly did, but to no avail. The chimp didn’t move a muscle.

In fact, I was half expecting him to lean across and say: “Let’s play it dumb and we’ll divide the dosh between us!”

Eventually, an exhausted – and disconsolate – Henry shouted “cut!” and went for a lie-down.

I went for a cup of tea and the chimp headed straight to his minder who was waving a bunch of bananas.

I felt so sorry for Henry. The chimp must have cost him a few bob.

Perhaps we got him on a bad day? That’s showbiz!

Jimmy’s autobiography available now!

Don’t forget that Jimmy’s official autobiography is still on sale.

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian tells the heart-warming story of Jimmy’s illustrious life and career – told in his own words.

The paperback costs £11.99 and is available at online retailer Amazon here.

One pound from the sale of every book goes to Mary’s Meals.

The charity supports feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities.

Also read – Autobiography: Buy The Jimmy Cricket Story now!

Read more about Jimmy’s life and career here.

All his tour bookings and other events can be found here.

From the archives: 1983 Children’s Royal Variety Performance 150 150 mhamer

From the archives: 1983 Children’s Royal Variety Performance

Hi folks editing footage, and here's my little contribution to the 3rd Children's Royal Variety Show, (this idea was the creation of Rod Hull), at the end, how many artistes do you know? Alongside the great advocate of Variety, David Bell #keepvarietyalive

The third Children’s Royal Variety Performance featured many top entertainers, including our very own Jimmy Cricket.

Jimmy has been reliving the star-studded show from nearly 40 years ago by making his own performance available online.

He posted on social media: “Hi folks we’re editing some footage and here’s my little contribution which was recorded at the 3rd Children’s Royal Variety Performance.

“This idea was the creation of Speciality Act Rod Hull, which raised a lot of money for the NSPCC over the 13 years.

This one was staged by LWT – can you name all the Variety Artistes at the end of the clip in the line-up?

“Alongside the great advocate of Televised Variety, the sadly missed David Bell #keepvarietyalive”

Also among the performers in March 1983 were Russ Abbot, Kim Wilde, Jeremy Beadle, Stu Francis, Keith Chegwin, Dustin Gee and Maggie Philbin.

Princess Margaret was the royal guest.

The replies to Jimmy’s post included:

Stewart: I remember Dustin Gee doing a gig at Haslingden Cricket Club many years ago.

Gildas: Well worth watching , would love to see the full show (see below).

Gary: Love it

Michelle: Brilliant

Simon: Brilliant and still funny!

Pete: That’s when variety was at its best. Lovely to see.

Rod: Jimmy Cricket you are brill. Total pro.

Paul: Really fab Jimmy.

Dom: Love it Jimmy. Well done pal.

Watch Jimmy’s performance below.

Watch the full show here

Also read: ‘Great privilege’ to be in 1984 Royal Variety Show

 

Skegness reunion for Jimmy, Theo & Wendy 150 150 mhamer

Skegness reunion for Jimmy, Theo & Wendy

Jimmy with Theo the Mouse and Wendy

Jimmy Cricket met up again with TV characters Wendy Abrahams and Theo The Mouse when they all featured in a summer season spectacle at the beginning of August at the Embassy Theatre in Skegness, Lincolnshire.

The show was part of a series of summer performances at the theatre, which also featured Anita Harris, Stu Francis and The Bachelors (see poster below).

Sunday night Startime at the Embassy Theatre in Skegness starred Jimmy Cricket, Anita Harris, The Bachelors, Theo The Mouse and Wendy

The Embassy Theatre line-up was produced by the theatre impresario Mark Andrews.

Although well-known entertainer Jimmy only headlined the first production, all three evenings featured Wendy, who features in CITV’s Sooty Show, and Theo The Mouse, a children’s character created by Wink Taylor. 

Wendy’s partner, Wink, helps out with Theo The Mouse and is also heavily involved with the latest television version of Sooty, which is broadcast on weekend mornings on ITV1.

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy also met Theo and Wendy when he appeared at St David’s Hall in Cardiff, South Wales, towards the backend of last year.

The Facebook page for Theo The Mouse can be found here.

Priest with ‘show business in his blood’ 150 150 mhamer

Priest with ‘show business in his blood’

Irish World article is about Jimmy Cricket's second son, Fr Frankie Mulgrew

The Irish World newspaper has featured a special article about Jimmy Cricket’s second son, newly ordained priest Fr Frankie Mulgrew.

It appeared in the 8 March edition of the Irish World, which is one of the main newspapers serving the Irish community in the UK.

The Irish World newspaper has featured a special article about Jimmy Cricket's second son, newly ordained priest Fr Frankie Mulgrew

Fr Frankie, who was ordained to the Roman Catholic Church last summer, and his famous entertainer-dad can be seen on page 3 of the newspaper.

The article was written by Jimmy’s friend Gerry Molumby who lives in Nottingham and reports on how Jimmy is incredibly proud of his son, Frankie, becoming a priest.

Fr Frankie  – a regular entertainer before he was ordained – is described as having “more than a little show business in his blood”.

It also provides some details about where he is currently undertaking his ministry – at the Parish of Our Lady of the Valley in East Lancashire.

The ordination service took place at Salford Cathedral on the afternoon of Saturday 13 July 2013 and was presided over by the Rt Rev Bishop Terence Brain – Bishop of Salford – and in the presence of the Rt Rev Mark Davis, Bishop of Shrewsbury.

It was a joint ordination as Frankie’s friend, Nathan Horne, was also ordained to the priesthood and so the cathedral was packed with nearly 800 people in attendance.

Fr Frankie’s first Mass was at St Vincent’s RC Church in Norden, Rochdale, the following day.

Visit to new restaurant is great ‘Tweet’! 150 150 mhamer

Visit to new restaurant is great ‘Tweet’!

 

Jimmy Cricket and wife May with Stu Francis

Jimmy and his wife May with Stu Francis at the opening of the EastzEast restaurant

Jimmy Cricket posted a recommendation on Twitter after attending the launch of a new Indian restaurant.

The famous entertainer was invited to EastzEast in Whitefield, Greater Manchester, by his good friend, the entertainment promoter Micky Martin (pictured with Jimmy below).

Jimmy Cricket with Micky Martin and a member of the restaurant staff

Also at the opening was fellow comedian Stu Francis, another of Jimmy’s friends.

Jimmy said: “I was highly impressed with EastzEast. I loved the friendly staff and was very impressed with the food on offer.

“In fact, I enjoyed the experience so much that I took to the social media network the next morning and posted a recommendation on Twitter!”

*  A big thanks to Bill Cowpland (pictured with Jimmy below) for the above photographs

Jimmy Cricket with Bill Cowpland

Heard the one about the comic who… 150 150 mhamer

Heard the one about the comic who…

The Manchester Evening News featured the story about Frankie Mulgrew's ordinationFrankie Mulgrew’s ordination to the Roman Catholic priesthood has received plenty of publicity in the media.

The 35-year-old younger son of Irish-born and Rochdale-based entertainer Jimmy Cricket became a priest this summer and among newspapers and websites to provide coverage of the special event was the Manchester Evening News which printed a news article (above).

It included quotes from Fr Frankie who says he used to drive comedian Peter Kay to shows.

Frankie, who has been a stand-up comedian in his own right, says one of his first parts in show business was “playing the back end of a cow at the Belfast Opera House”.

The newly ordained priest, whose stage name was Frankie Doodle, has compiled and edited a book called Does God LOL? (LOL is internet slang for Laugh Out Loud), which went on sale recently.

Ken Dodd, Ricky Tomlinson, Tim Vine, Jo Brand, Milton Jones and the late Frank Carson are among the famous showbiz names to have contributed to the book, which is priced at £7.99 or less (and is available at all good bookshops and websites, including Amazon).

Special thanks at Fr Frankie’s first Mass 150 150 mhamer

Special thanks at Fr Frankie’s first Mass

Fr Frankie hugs his dad Jimmy Cricket after dedicating his book, Does God LOL?, to himFather Frankie Mulgrew had a special present for his dad Jimmy Cricket, the famous entertainer, when he celebrated his first Mass as a Roman Catholic priest.

Fr Frankie Mulgrew celebrates his first Mass

Having been ordained at Salford Cathedral the previous day, Fr Frankie said his first Mass at St Vincent’s RC Church in Norden, Rochdale, where has been based for several years.

During the Mass, Fr Frankie – hugging his dad and thanking him for all he has done for him (picture above) – presented him with a special gift as a token of his gratitude… a copy of the book entitled Does God LOL?

Liz Dawn (who played Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street) talks to Frankie's friend Liz Creagh after the service. Liz was at both the ordination and the First Mass and Frankie was really thrilled she came to both eventsFrankie has compiled the book, which develops a theme around whether God has a sense of humour with the help of well-known contributors including Tim Vine, Ricky Tomlinson and Jo Brand.

He dedicated it to his father who said he had no idea this was going to happen.

Among the hundreds of people who attended the packed service at St Vincent’s was Liz Dawn, Lord David Alton, who has been a great guiding light for Frankie Mulgrew, reads the first reading at the Masswho played Vera Duckworth in Coronation Street.

Above, she is pictured talking to another of Frankie’s friends, Liz Creagh, after the service.

Liz Dawn was at both the ordination and the first Mass, and Frankie said he was really thrilled she had attended both events.

Lord David AltonFr Frankie Mulgrew leaves church after saying his first Mass as a Catholic priest, who has been a great guiding light for Frankie, read the first reading at the Mass (above).

A buffet was held after Fr Frankie’s first Mass at St Vincent’s Parish Centre, which is just yards from the church.

The ordination service, on Saturday 13 July, was presided over by the Rt Rev Bishop Terence Brain – Bishop of Salford – and in the presence of the Rt Rev Mark Davis, Bishop of Shrewsbury.

It was a joint ordination as Frankie’s friend, Nathan Horne, was also ordained to the priesthood and so the cathedral was packed with nearly 800 people in attendance.

* All photos courtesy of Graham Sivills from Norden Studio

View more photos from this special occasion here

Fr Frankie Mulgrew celebrates his first Mass