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syd little

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

 

What is Syd of Little and Large fame doing now? 150 150 mhamer

What is Syd of Little and Large fame doing now?

Jimmy Cricket's April column in the Lancashire Post

Jimmy Cricket devoted his latest monthly column in the Lancashire Evening Post to a man who was one half of a famous comedy double act.

Well-known Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy talks in the 30 April edition of the Preston-based newspaper about Syd Little who formed a great show business partnership with Eddie Large.

Syd was the straight man in the Little and Large act, while Eddie Large was generally the funny guy. They had a TV series and appeared in theatres and pantomimes for many years before they split when Eddie had serious health problems.

Syd now performs on cruise ships, most notably on the QE2 (which was retired from active Cunard service on 27 November 2008), and also runs a restaurant in his hometown of Fleetwood in Lancashire called The Steamer with his wife Sheree.

Slideshow tribute to ‘comedian’s comedian’ 150 150 mhamer

Slideshow tribute to ‘comedian’s comedian’

Johnny Casson enjoys his own memories of Norman Collier

Johnnie Casson enjoys his own memories of Norman Collier. Pictures courtesy of OlsenParker photography

Jimmy Cricket was among several top entertainers who paid their last respects to legendary comedian Norman Collier in a special tribute show.

The event, called An evening of Comedy and Laughter, took place at the New Theatre in Hull in September.

It included Northern Irish funnyman Jimmy plus fellow stars Tom O’ Connor, Syd Little (of Little and Large), ventriloquist Roger De Courcey (plus Nookie Bear), Johnnie Casson and Robin Grumbleweed.

Norman, who died in March this year aged 87, was born and bred in Hull and for most of his life lived in the nearby town of Brough.

He achieved popularity following television appearances in the 1970s and was best known for his ‘faulty microphone’ routine and his chicken impressions.

Norman was highly regarded by many fellow comics, including Frank Carson and Les Dawson, and was described by Jimmy Tarbuck as ‘the comedian’s comedian’.

Read more about Norman here.

The show was hosted by Norman’s son-in-law, John Ainsley, who was also the main organiser of the event.

Jimmy Cricket pays tribute to Norman Collier

Jimmy pays tribute

Jimmy Cricket said: “Suffice to say the theatre was packed to the rafters and everyone thoroughly enjoyed themselves.

“A sizeable amount of money was raised which will be given to Norman’s widow, Lucy.”

Enjoy some nostalgia and watch Jimmy and Norman performing a chicken sketch together.

All pictures in the slideshow below are courtesy of OlsenParker photography which is based in Hull and the East Riding of Yorkshire.

Irish comedian in the headlines… 150 150 mhamer

Irish comedian in the headlines…

Jimmy Cricket in Eastbourne

Jimmy Cricket’s appearance in a family entertainment extravaganza at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, East Sussex, this summer has hit the headlines.

The loveable Irish comedian features in two big stories about the show.

One is on the Eastbourne Herald website and here is an excerpt from the article:

Over the last few years Eastbourne has begun to finally shake free of its historic tag as a pensioner’s paradise but this summer one corner of the Sunshine Coast will be proudly plonking itself well and truly inside a time warp.

Having opened way back in 1883, the Royal Hippodrome Theatre has played host to stars of the stage as diverse as Peter Sellers, Ken Dodd, Vera Lynn and even escape artists extraordinaire Harry Houdini.

But despite surviving an unfair roasting from Sir Bruce Forsyth, who publicly laid into the venue’s facilities during an interview – he was starring at the Hippodrome when he was called up to compere at the London Palladium – the much-loved theatre has fallen on hard times.

Where once it staged regular shows, attracting sell-out crowds of more than 1,000 all year round, now the bill is limited to the summer months and played out in front of audiences which are often far more modest.

This summer though, the powers that be are hoping for a return to the halcyon days of yesteryear as the venue once again gears up for its summer variety show – the longest running of its type anywhere in the UK.

A Sentimental Journey kicks off on May 1 and runs all the way up until the end of September and boasts an array of acts ready to tread the boards in what promises to be a fun-filled and nostalgia twinged trip back to the 1950s and 60s – a time when variety ruled the world and places like the Hippodrome attracted the biggest stars in the businesses.

The line-up includes a Billy Fury tribute act who blossomed after an appearance on hit TV show Stars in Their Eyes and a team of show time dancers who will no doubt high kick their way through some of the popular numbers from yesteryear.

Comperes Barry Moon and Mike Lee will keep things ticking over with their mix of conversation and comedy while Tracey Lea appears as the much-loved Connie Francis.

Top of the bill and very much the main attraction though is a man perhaps best known for his letters from his mammy and an inability to tell his left from his right.

Jimmy Cricket in Eastbourne

Jimmy Cricket has been charming crowds since first stepping onto a Butlins stage as a 18-year-old red coat back in 1966. England may have been winning the World Cup, but over the sea in the small Irish town of Mosney a young comic was developing a winning formula which would carry him through the next four decades and see him leave an indelible print on the comedy consciousness of all who saw him.

Read the full story here

And Jimmy is also mentioned prominently in a feature on Whatsonstage.com, which says it is “Britain’s biggest and best theatre and performing arts website”.

The story is about Eastbourne’s Royal Hippodrome opening its doors again May with a five-month run of a new summer season show called Sentimental Journey – in which Jimmy will be starring.

Here is a section from the story:

The summer show, which is being produced to mark the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee year, is a family variety show appropriately called Sentimental Journey. This will take you on a journey back to the time of the coronation (1953) with Stars in Their Eyes contestants Colin Gold as Billy Fury and Tracy Lea, as Connie Francis. The show will also have its own Show Time Dancers and alternating compères Barry Moon and Mike Lee. Headlining is a man who has been described as “one of the greatest front of tabs comedians” and family favourite, Jimmy Cricket.

I had an opportunity to talk to Jimmy about the show and the theatre in which it plays.

“This is the Cinderella theatre in Eastbourne and the fact that it could have closed makes me weep. I’ve gone out on a limb sometimes, when I see other theatres closing, and I have had irate letters back from some councillors asking why I am butting in, but I can’t just stand by and watch them go under.

“I was here three or four years ago. I stood in for Syd Little for a few nights in the summer when he had other commitments, and when I had the greasepaint on and I got the smell of the theatre in my nostrils I knew I wanted to come back. It’s wonderful to be here for a real summer season, with a time-honoured and classic variety show.”

Read the full story here

Photos on this page supplied by Peter Gurr

Jimmy and the rest of the Eastbourne show entertainers

Jimmy and the rest of the Eastbourne show entertainers