Posts Tagged :

television

‘Nobody tells a budgie joke like Freddie’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Nobody tells a budgie joke like Freddie’

Jimmy Cricket's latest monthly column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket relived his wedding day 40 years on in his latest column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post.

The famous entertainer  is headlining Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the Charter Theatre in Preston – where he made his pantomime debut in 1981 – over the Christmas and New Year period.

When the Lancashire Evening Post contacted Jimmy through his website editor Martin Hamer – former digital editor at the LEP – about the idea of a monthly feature in the run-up to the panto, he thought it was a “very flattering request”.

And his most recent column recalls the happy memories from 1974 – and how he celebrated his ruby anniversary.

Jimmy also talks about the pantomime, which will be directed by Freddie ‘Parrot Face’ Davies who found fame in the 1960s on Opportunity Knocks when it was watched by an astonishing 20 million people.

“Nobody tells a budgie joke like Freddie,” laughs Jimmy in his column.

Capturing the festival mood in Crawley 150 150 mhamer

Capturing the festival mood in Crawley

cricket_irish_world

Famous comedian Jimmy Cricket featured prominently in media coverage of the recent Crawley Irish Festival.

The Northern Irish entertainer figured in several of the photographs in both the Irish Post and the Irish World.

Jimmy Cricket featured in the Irish World's coverage of the Crawley Irish Festival

Jimmy performed on the outside stage and also in the theatre’s foyer at the festival, which was organised by local Crawley resident John Nolan and took place in and around the English town’s main Theatre called The Hawth.

He was asked to participate at the event by his friend Gerry Molumby, who hosted the entertainment that was presented on the outside stage at the festival.

The photographs seen here appeared in the Irish Post on 4 October (below) and the 27 September edition of the Irish World.

Jimmy Cricket featured in the Irish Post's coverage of the Crawley Irish Festival

****STOP PRESS**** AFTER JIMMY’S SUCCESSFUL VISIT TO THIS YEAR’S CRAWLEY IRISH FESTIVAL, HE WILL RETURN TO THE REGION AGAIN IN NEARBY HORSHAM WHEN HE APPEARS AT THE CAPITOL THEATRE ON SUNDAY 21ST JUNE 2015 @ 3PM.

‘Great event and a wonderful atmosphere’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Great event and a wonderful atmosphere’

Jimmy Cricket at the Crawley Irish FestivalJimmy Cricket was asked to perform TWICE at this year’s Crawley Irish Festival.

The famous Irish entertainer not only performed on the outside stage, but was also asked to appear in the theatre’s foyer that featured a programme mainly of music and was compered by good friend, Patrick O’Connell.

The festival was organised by local Crawley resident John Nolan and took place in and around the English town’s main Theatre called The Hawth.

Jimmy was asked to participate at the event by his friend Gerry Molumby, who hosted the entertainment that was presented on the outside stage at the festival.

“It was a great event and a wonderful atmosphere,” said Jimmy.

“Certainly there seemed to be a large Irish contingent who had arrived en masse from across Greater London, as well as a tremendous presence from local Crawley residents.”

Renewing wedding vows 40 years on 150 150 mhamer

Renewing wedding vows 40 years on

Jimmy and May Cricket celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary with all the family

It was a family occasion in more ways than one when Jimmy Cricket and his wife May celebrated their ruby wedding anniversary recently.

Jimmy and May Cricket got married at St Joseph’s Catholic church in Bury on 25 September 1974They got married at St Joseph’s Catholic church in Bury on 25 September 1974 (photo right) and, 40 years and three days later, they renewed their vows at St Mary’s, Sabden in East Lancashire (below left).

And the priest who took the Sabden service was none other than the couple’s younger son, Fr Frankie Mulgrew.

Close family (above) attended the service, which was followed by a special celebratory dinner at the nearby Spread Eagle Inn, Sawley in the Ribble Valley.

Jimmy and May Cricket renewed their vows on Saturday 27 September at St Mary’s, Sabden in East LancashireJoining both Jimmy and May for their special day of celebrations were all four of their children: Dale, Frankie, Jamie and Katie.

Also present were daughter-in-law, Philippa, and son-in-law, Lee.

Jimmy and May’s grandchildren made their presence known during the day as both Tristan and Lorelai participated in this joyous occasion.

From seaside show to Irish festival 150 150 mhamer

From seaside show to Irish festival

Jimmy Cricket with a family who had come to see the show. They are: Ali O’ Grady, her husband and mother-in-law

Jimmy Cricket recently returned to perform in Eastbourne – where he spent much of the 2012 summer season.

The famous Irish entertainer was back at the Royal Hippodrome Theatre doing his popular stand-up comedy show.

May Cricket, whose showbusiness name is May MarionJimmy (below) and his wife, May, (right) – who performed as the female vocalist May Marion – can both be seen in their dressing rooms getting ready for the show.

May is often Jimmy’s main supporting artist when he is touring the length and breadth of the UK.

Top, Jimmy is pictured with some members of the audience – Ali O’ Grady, and her husband and mother-in-law – in the theatre foyer after the evening’s performance.

All photos are courtesy of Jimmy’s great friend, Gerry Molumby, who had come to see Jimmy at Eastbourne and also arranged for him to appear at this year’s Crawley Irish Festival the following day.

Both Jimmy and Gerry stayed at the Marine Parade Hotel after the show, which is owned by Jimmy’s close friends, Jerome and Carol, and is just around the corner from the theatre.

Jimmy Cricket

Watch TV programme from 1986! 150 150 mhamer

Watch TV programme from 1986!

Jimmy Cricket on And There's More

Fans of famous entertainer Jimmy Cricket are in for a real treat – an airing of the first episode of his TV series from the 1980s.

And There’s More was filmed for Central Television at their studios in Lenton Lane, Nottingham – sadly no longer there – and transmitted in June 1986.

Now, nearly 30 years later, the programme is being broadcast on Jimmy’s YouTube channel and also on the homepage of this website.

But you will have to be quick as the video will be taken down tomorrow at 5pm (Friday).

Jimmy said: “It showed what great comedy actors and impressionists Rory Bremner and Jessica Martin were; what a good stand-up comedian my friend Adrian Walsh was; and what a good sport Chinese actor Hi Ching was. The show’s special guest was actress and winger-songwriter Hazel O’Connor.”

The series was produced and directed by Tony Wolf and the associate producer was Paula Burden – whose father was the famous music hall comedian Albert Burden.

* Because of technological problems, we were unable to upload the video as hoped yesterday. Sorry for any inconvenience.

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.