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Raising a toast to ‘the godfather of theatrical agents’ 150 150 mhamer

Raising a toast to ‘the godfather of theatrical agents’

Former theatrical agent Johnny Martin was there when his acts needed him the most, says famous comedian Jimmy Cricket.

Former theatrical agent Johnny Martin was there when his acts needed him the most, says famous comedian Jimmy Cricket.

Jimmy and two fellow famous entertainers met up a few months ago to celebrate Johnny’s career.

In his latest newspaper column, which appears in both the Lancashire Evening Post and the Blackpool Gazette, Jimmy recalls the meeting.

He says: “On a sunny Sunday afternoon in late October last year, three entertainers – Syd Little (of Little and Large fame), Phil Cool (comedian, impressionist and musician) and Jimmy Cricket (that’s me folks), gathered at the Bukhara Indian Restaurant near Preston, to celebrate the career of former theatrical agent Johnny Martin.

“This was quite an unusual event in the entertainment world.

“Normally, agents stay in the background while their artistes get all the plaudits… in other words they get the commission while their turns get the glory.

Excited tones

“So, what made Johnny – who now resides in Chorley – so special? Well, he was there when his acts needed them most.

“Let’s let Syd tell his story first: “My partner Eddie Large had to retire because of heart problems, so one minute I was one half of one of the most successful comedy double acts in Britian and the next I was on my own.

“Johnny believed I could  go solo and got me a booking entertaining passengers on the QE2.

“He also encouraged me to write a book about my time as part of Little and Large… he helped me promote it well as getting me live work around the country… and he was there for me when I needed somebody to help build my confidence.

“You could say he’s the godfather of theatrical agents.

Short-lived

“My personal anecdote about Johnny was the time he fixed pantomime for me in my hometown.

“I remember the telephone conversation vividly when he told me in excited tones that he’d booked me to do Jack and The Beanstalk at the Grand Opera House in Belfast at the end of that year.

“Unfortunately, my euphoria was short-lived, for a few weeks later he rang again and this time in more sombre tones he told me that a bomb had gone off next door to the theatre and the pantomime may now not go ahead.

“He said he’d keep me posted.

“I can’t tell you how deflated I was readers, when I put the phone down after that conversation.

“However, like all good pantomimes this story does have a happy ending, because within a few weeks, Johnny rang to say that with the help of a few very talented architects and engineers the theatre could be saved, repaired and brought back to its former glory.

Emotional moment

“It wouldn’t be completely ready for that Christmas, so we would have to change in portable cabins, but that was a minor inconvenience.

“The important thing was Jack and The Beanstalk opened and played to record attendances that year.

“And it had a lot to do with the people of Belfast voting with their feet and showing they wouldn’t be beaten by violence.

“Closer to home now for Phil‘s heart-warming story of how when he had developed his unique style of impressions that entailed bringing his characters to life with his descriptive facial expressions.

“It was Johnny who kept bringing producers and promoters into see his live act that eventually led to him having his own television series.

Yes, it was an emotional moment in that restaurant for Johnny and his lovely wife Chris, as we all raised a toast to the man who helped our career when we needed it most.

“In fact, we all enjoyed our lunchtime get-together so much, that we even thought of forming our own showbiz fraternity to meet in the future.

“Syd suggested calling ourselves ‘The Chorley Chaplin’s’, but Johnny himself had the last word.

“He said: ‘Instead of ‘The Four Musketeers’, how about ‘The Four Must Have a Beers!'”.

Buy Jimmy’s autobiography!Jimmy Cricket with his autobiography

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

Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian tells the heart-warming story of Jimmy’s illustrious life and 50-year career.

The paperback costs £11.99 and can be bought at online retailer Amazon here. It is also available via eBook and audio.

Signed copies (£15.99 including postage and packing) can be purchased on this website here.

It is also available at Jimmy’s live gigs for £10 where Jimmy will also sign it.

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: Jimmy Cricket’s signed autobiographies now available by post!

Easter cruise included special birthday celebration 150 150 mhamer

Easter cruise included special birthday celebration

A thunderstorm and a timely stop-off to celebrate a special birthday helped to make Jimmy Cricket’s Easter cruise a memorable one!

Famous funnyman Jimmy was a celebrity entertainer on the Ambience, the flagship of Ambassador Cruise Line.

His wife, May – a professional singer – accompanied him on the boat, which set sail from London Tilbury on 3 April.

Guernsey, Tobermory on the Isle of Mull and Belfast in Northern Ireland – Jimmy’s place of birth – were among the destinations on the 11-night trip.

It included a ‘Journey through Holy Week’ theme, with Easter services and reflections on board.

Jimmy said: “It was organised by a lifelong friend of ours called Chris Gidney who used to run an organisation called Christians in Entertainment, so it was Christian-themed.

“When we stopped at Belfast, May and I were able to attend a birthday lunch to celebrate her brother Carson’s 80th birthday.

“How convenient was that!?”

He added: “And when we docked in the port of Cherbourg, we were hit by a thunderstorm!”

‘What a star!’

High praise for Jimmy came from one of the passengers called MJ Simpson (pictured below).

Here is MJ’s description of himself on his Twitter profile.

“Writes a bit, acts a bit, doesn’t sing. One book every 20 years or so. Proud owner of the officially second-best handlebar moustache in Britain.”

He posted after the cruise: “The absolute highlight of an @ambassadorcruis packed with great times was seeing and even meeting comedy legend @jimmy__cricket.

“Two hilarious shows and he took time to chat with every fan.

“What a star!”

The absolute highlight of @ambassadorcruis packed with great times was seeing and even meeting comedy legend @jimmy__cricket.

The celebrity entertainers on board included Syd Little, of comedy duo Little and Large fame.

Jimmy posted on social media; “My heartfelt thanks to @ambassadorcruis and to organiser @ChrisGidney1 & Katherine & Tony & Maggie & @RealSidLittle & Sheree alongside @mimilabonqu & Pad, @revcindy1 & Jeff & Rev Ed & Margaret for the joyful Easter Celebrations & fun we had in each other’s company while onboard!”

Find out who else was on the cruise here.

Also read: Little and Large: It was a joy to work with them both

Jimmy’s autobiography!

Don’t forget that Jimmy’s official autobiography is now 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 where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

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

Belfast among UK destinations on special Easter cruise 150 150 mhamer

Belfast among UK destinations on special Easter cruise

We hope that you will unwind in comfortable surroundings as we take an exciting voyage across the waters whilst celebrating Easter with our special celebrity entertainers and guests.

The city in which Jimmy Cricket was born is among the ports of call on his current working cruise around the British Isles and France.

Famous funnyman Jimmy is a celebrity entertainer on the Ambience, the flagship of Ambassador Cruise Line.

The boat set sail from London Tilbury on Monday (3 April).

Guernsey, Tobermory on the Isle of Mull and Belfast in Northern Ireland – Jimmy’s place of birth – are among the destinations on the 11-night trip.

Le Havre in France is also on the itinerary for the Easter British Isles Discovery.

It includes a ‘Journey through Holy Week’ theme with Easter services and reflections on board.

Promotional material about the cruise says Jimmy is one of a rare breed of “‘clean’ comedians who has his audiences falling off their seats with laughter”.

It adds he “will be delighting [audiences] … with cabaret appearances”.

Syd Little, of comedy duo Little and Large fame, is also one of the celebrity entertainers on  the cruise.

Find out who else is on the cruise here.

Little and Large: It was a joy to work with them both

Jimmy’s autobiography!

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

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

It can be ordered from online retailer Amazon here.

The paperback is priced at £11.99.

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 where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education.

Little and Large: It was a joy to work with them both 150 150 mhamer

Little and Large: It was a joy to work with them both

Hi folks my tribute to Eddie Large and Syd Little efore the unveiling of Eddie's Portrait this weekend in Blackpool, it was always a joy to work with them both! #keepvarietyalive

Jimmy Cricket says Little and Large were one of the best-loved comedy acts to ever play in the famous seaside resort of Blackpool.

Syd Little was the straight man of then two great entertainers, while Eddie Large was generally the funny guy.

They had a TV series and appeared in theatres and pantomimes for many years before their partnership ended when Eddie had serious health problems.

Eddie, who was born Edward Hugh McGinnis, died aged 78 in April 2020.

He had been suffering with heart failure and contracted coronavirus in hospital.

Fellow comedian Jimmy devoted his latest newspaper column to the famous comic duo.
It was published ahead of an unveiling of a portrait of Eddie this weekend at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens.
Jimmy said: “It was always a joy to work with them both.”
Here is his column in full:

Little and large were appearing in summer season at the Princess Theatre in Torquay when I went backstage to visit them with a sketch I’d written.

It was the early 80s and I was breaking into television.

They had a prime-time show on Saturday evenings at that time, that used guest artistes and as I’d done a few one-night­ers with them, I thought I’d pitch an idea to them.

I knew from experience that you had a much better chance of getting your material accepted if you let the stars of the show get as many laughs as you did.

So I hit on this idea to do a sketch based on me teaching Eddie to be an Irish comedian.

Eddie was a brilliant mimic and I figured if we could do a couple of routines, we could split the jokes between us.

I also figured if the wardrobe lady could tog him out in the same garb as my comedy character It would be even better.

Here’s the jist of the sketch:

Jimmy: Ladies and gentlemen, come ‘ere, I’ve been for a haircut.

He said: Do you want your hair cut round the back; I said, is there no room in the shop?

Eddie: And there’s more…

He said: You know it needs cutting badly; I said: I don’t want it cutting badly, I want it cut properly.

And so on…. the sketch finished with Eddie’s long-suffering on-stage partner Syd,
(they were the best of friends off stage), coming on to try and keep order but of course we both give him his come comeuppance and do a little jig off set.

When I knocked on the boys’ dressing room at the Princess Theatre in Torquay that evening, Eddie was there on his own and he warmly welcomed me in.

When I handed him the script, he sat down and perused it attentively, (comedy’s a serious business folks), but gradually a smile appeared as he visualised the comic potential of it and a huge feeling of relief came over me.

Happy summer season

He said he would show it to Syd and the two of them would show it to their producer Bill Wilson.

I left the theatre that evening in a confident mood.

You’ll be happy to know, readers, the sketch did make it on to the show.

From the moment we came to the set, in identical hat, wellies and tailcoat the studio audience lapped it up and I’m sure that was replicated with the viewers at home.

Many years later, I did a very happy summer season at the Britannia Theatre in Great Yarmouth with them.

Syd and Eddie never had a hang-up about other comedians on the bill getting laughs.

Another 15 years

To them it was the success of the overall show that mattered and the louder people laughed the more likely they would be to spread the word around the resort.

Not long after that season, Eddie’s heart condition deteriorated, but miraculously he was given a heart transplant at the Papworth Hospital in Cambridge which gave him another 15 years.

I made him laugh once when I sent him an email and jokingly suggested that the reason his new heart was in such good nick was that it came from a theatrical agent and had hardly been used!

It was while Eddie was having treatment for his heart at Southmead Hospital in Bristol, that he succumbed to the coronavirus and sadly died on the 2nd of April 2020.

A light went out in the UK entertainment industry.

All the happy memories of working with Eddie and Syd have been rekindled these last few weeks, because Eddie’s wife Patsy, and son Ryan, have passed on to me the happy news that a portrait of Eddie is to be unveiled at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Given the fact that Little and Large broke all box office records during their summer seasons in Blackpool, this is a fitting and lasting tribute from our premier seaside resort to one half of one of the best-loved comedy acts to ever play there.

Memorial page set up for tributes to the late Eddie Large 150 150 mhamer

Memorial page set up for tributes to the late Eddie Large

Hi everyone here is a link by #RyanMcGinnis the son of the great comic Eddie Large, where you can add a tribute to a memorial page in memory of his Dad, husband to Patsy! ????

The funeral for the late comedian Eddie Large takes place on 24 April.

Eddie, best known for being part of double act Little and Large, died with coronavirus earlier this month aged 78.

His son Ryan McGinnis has created an online memorial page for people to pay tribute to him.

Ryan tweeted: “As you all know my dad, @eddie6large, passed away.

“The funeral will be on the 24/04/20 and I have set up a memorial page for him.

“We ask that instead flowers to the funeral could you donate to our charity, @RoyalPapworth.”

‘Heavy heart’

Eddie was a well-known face on TV in the 1970s and 80s and was famous for his comedy partnership with Syd Little.

The TV star, who was born Edward Hugh McGinnis, had been suffering with heart failure and contracted coronavirus in hospital.

Jimmy, 74, had said when hearing of Eddie’s death: “It is with a heavy heart I have just found out, (through his son Ryan), that his father Eddie Large has passed away.

“I worked many times with him and his partner Syd.

“They were not only a wonderful double act, but such great fun to be with off stage!

“Our thoughts and prayers goes to Patsy his wife and Ryan and his family, but also with Syd, Sheree and son Dominic xx.”

Jimmy’s Facebook post on 2 April attracted more than 1,000 likes, almost 400 comments and nearly 600 shares (to date).

Also read: What is Syd of Little and Large fame doing now?

It is with a heavy heart I have just found out, (through his son Ryan), that his father Eddie Large has passed away. I worked many times with him and his partner Sid, they were not only a wonderful double act, but such great fun to be with off stage! Our thoughts and prayers goes to Patsy his wife and Ryan and his family, but also with Sid, Sheree and son Dominic xx

‘Wanted to see Jimmy Cricket live for practically my lifetime’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Wanted to see Jimmy Cricket live for practically my lifetime’

Enjoyed performing @SlapstickFest in the, “Weston Studio”, at the Old Vic here in the great city of Bristol ?

Jimmy Cricket was told that he “went down a storm” in the 15th Slapstick Festival in Bristol at the weekend.

The famous comedian performed on Sunday (20 January) in The Weston Studio at the Bristol Old Vic.

Since 2005, the festival has hosted more than 300 events for over 100,000 people, introducing rare archive and silent comedy films, and combining them with live music from world-class musicians, well-known guests and film experts.

The organisers said on social media after the event: “Thanks for coming Jimmy – cracking show, went down a storm.”

Jimmy posted: “Enjoyed performing in the, “Weston Studio”, at the Old Vic here in the great city of Bristol.”

He later said: “For the past 15 years, the Slapstick festival has been celebrating Charlie, Buster, Stan and Ollie and all the great visual comedy pioneers of the past. It was an honour and a pleasure to perform my one-man show for them last Sunday at the Bristol Old Vic.”

A member of the audience, Jonathan Sloman, who is a freelance film and TV editor and historian, tweeted: “Wanted to see Jimmy Cricket live for practically my lifetime. A real treat to be at this. Was hypnotised by those boots!”

Other performers at the 33 events over six days included Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer, Little & Large, Sally Phillips and Dad’s Army’s Frank Williams, who is among those pictured below with Jimmy and his wife May.

Jimmy posted on social media: “Lovely meeting up with old friends Producer and Author and Katherine his wife, alongside Ronnie, and actor Frank Williams, (Rev Farthing in Dad’s Army), after the in Hotel last night.”

Lovely meeting up with old friends Producer and Author @ChrisGidney and Katherine his wife, alongside Ronnie, and actor Frank Williams, (Rev Farthing in Dad’s Army), after the @SlapstickFest in @BristolDoyle Hotel last night ?

Watch Jimmy Cricket at Bristol’s slapstick festival 150 150 mhamer

Watch Jimmy Cricket at Bristol’s slapstick festival

Jimmy Cricket is without doubt a 1980s comedy icon

Jimmy Cricket is taking part in the 15th Slapstick Festival in Bristol at the weekend.

The famous comedian will be performing from 5pm on Sunday (20 January) at The Weston Studio , Bristol Old Vic on King Street.

Other performers at the 33 events over six days include Bill Oddie, Graeme Garden, Tim Brooke-Taylor, Barry Cryer, Little & Large, Sally Phillips and Dad’s Army’s Frank Williams.

The promotional write-up for the festival says: “Jimmy Cricket is without doubt a 1980s comedy icon. With his trademark wellington boots (on the wrong feet), his famous letters from his Mammy and his catchphrases of ‘come closer’ and ‘there’s more’, he holds the hearts of all those that were fans of his TV and radio shows.

“As hilarious as ever, and winning new fans wherever he performs, Jimmy will excite and delight audiences with his special brand of family friendly stand up comedy. A real nostalgic family treat.”

Book tickets to see Jimmy

Read more about Slapstick 2019 here

 

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