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And there’s more… 150 150 mhamer

And there’s more…

Jimmy Cricket with William McLean Kerr, who was the designer of the title sequence for the first series of And There's More

Jimmy Cricket was reminded of an old television colleague via this photograph posted on Facebook, the social media website.

It was taken during filming for comedian Jimmy’s TV series called And There’s More that was broadcast on ITV during the mid-1980s.

In the photo with the famous entertainer is William McLean Kerr, who was the designer of the title sequence for the first series. It was he who sent Jimmy this photo through Facebook.

William stopped working in television not long after the picture was taken. He decided to go and paint for a living, and now has a studio in Troon, Scotland. William paints oil paintings, landscapes, seascapes, fine art prints and drawings.

Jimmy said: “I was thrilled William got in contact after all these years and the photo was certainly a nice piece of nostalgia for me.”

Hello again to Hunstanton! 150 150 mhamer

Hello again to Hunstanton!

Jimmy Cricket is back next month at the venue where he spent the majority of the 2013 summer season.

The famous comedian returns to the Princess Theatre in the seaside resort of Hunstanton in Norfolk on Sunday 3 August.

A photo (below right) was posted on Twitter by the owners of Café Blah Blahh in Hunstanton to coincide with a  promotional push to publicise the show.

Owners of Café Blah Blahh posted a photo publicising Jimmy Cricket's return to Hunstanton

Jimmy was in the West Norfolk resort for most of last summer, as he starred in the Great British Seaside Summer show.

During his time in Hunstanton, Jimmy had a fantastic stay and earned the affection of the local community.

This included him touching base with a number of local businesses, including the Wash Monster boat ride operator; Hunstanton’s sealife centre; the Marine Hotel (where he stayed for the duration of the season) and Café Blah Blahh to name only a few.

Jimmy said: “I can’t wait to return to the Princess Theatre in this idyllic resort and hope to bump into a few familiar faces when I land there again in August.”

Going local for new publicity photos 150 150 mhamer

Going local for new publicity photos

Jimmy Cricket’s Madcap Music Hall show

Rochdale-based comedian Jimmy Cricket, who has one of the town’s most recognisable faces, shopped local for his latest batch of publicity shots.

Jimmy is currently devising a new touring show for 2015 and a pilot version of the idea was launched several weeks ago at a theatre in Blackburn.

The show is entitled Jimmy Cricket’s Madcap Music Hall show and has his trademark antics all over it.

To assist with the future promotion of the show, Jimmy needed to get some publicity shots done.

And the Belfast-born entertainer went to photography business Norden Design, which is owned by Graham Sivills.

When approached about a photo shoot, Graham did not think twice about getting involved. Jimmy then gathered a few  friends together, including his son Dale, who works at his office, to dress up as mock cast members so the photo would appear action-filled.

Jimmy said: “When I thought I needed some new photos, I could not think of a better man than Graham at Norden Design.

“I have known Graham for a number of years and it was good to support a local business which offers everything a national studio chain does.

“The outfit at Norden Design studio is really professional – plus Graham has this great ability to take some marvellous photographs, while at the same time having some light -hearted banter and putting everyone at ease.

“I am really pleased with the images, which I’ll now use as part of the artwork and promotional material for this show for next year.”

Events that helped make Jimmy famous 150 150 mhamer

Events that helped make Jimmy famous

jimmy_cricket_lookinPhotos and postings published on social media websites have revealed some of the events that made Jimmy Cricket a household name.

The Northern Irish entertainer’s supporters and friends have created a kind of nostalgia corner with their entries on Facebook and Twitter.

Right is a picture of the front cover of the Look in annual dating back to 1988. Look in was a popular weekly magazine aimed at the teenage markets during the 1980s.

Jimmy features primarily because he had a popular television series on ITV at the time and the magazine decided to run a comic strip which featured Jimmy’s character getting into different scrapes!jimmy_cricket_nostalgia

A big thanks to Amy Elizabeth Phillips for posting this on her website at www.varietyemporium.co.uk where it features on its dedicated Facebook page.

Back in 1987, Jimmy headlined a show at the Grand Theatre in Blackpool which was a trailblazer at the time as it started a trend of extending theatre-based entertainment attractions into the autumnal illuminations season (poster left, is also from the Variety Emporium website).

Supporting Jimmy on the show was none other than Brian Conley,  the English comedian, television presenter, singer and actor who at the peak of his television career was believed to be the highest-paid male television personality in the UK.

Alongside both Jimmy and Brian was a double act called Trevillion & Nine – the female half of which was Sadie Nice who is now a successful broadcaster on BBC Essex.

The other member of the double act, Paul Trevillion, went on to use his artistic talents to the full, producing cartoons for a range of sporting occasions and sporting publications.

60s pop group among acts at fundraiser 150 150 mhamer

60s pop group among acts at fundraiser

Jimmy Cricket performing at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre in aid of Francis House Children's HospiceA show at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre in which Jimmy Cricket appeared raised almost £6,000 for the Francis House Children’s Hospice in south Manchester.

The gala concert in early April also featured the 60s legends The Ivy League and other excellent performances were from female vocalist Julie A Scott, the double act Harris and Day, and the Greater Manchester Police choir.

It was organised by Jimmy and his close friend Jim Nicholas, who was also the host.

A lot of credit must go to the sponsors of the event who were: Barclays Bank, Swan Inn in Dobcross, Chesters coaches, The Old Bell Inn in Delph, Salford Discount Carpets and Beds, Phoenix Financial Services Ltd, and PJD heating, plumbing and gas fitters.

Press the arrow button below to view a slideshow of the concert. Ricky Sandtime Matthews took the majority of the photographs.

‘Aching ribs from his continuous hilarity’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Aching ribs from his continuous hilarity’

Jimmy Cricket and the cast for the fundraising concert at Christchurch C of E church in Chatburn, Lancashire

Jimmy Cricket sent “everyone home with a smile on their face” and helped to generate more than £1,000 towards a church development fund recently.

The famous Northern Irish entertainer appeared at a fundraising concert at Christchurch C of E Church in Chatburn, Lancashire.

He was the host and headline performer for the concert which also featured a musical tribute to the Andrews sisters – known as the ‘Sparkle Sisters’ – and an all-male musical act called the ‘Flat Cap Pack’.

Completing the line-up were two musical ensembles comprising of talented students from nearby Stonyhurst College.

The event was organised to raise money for the Church Development Fund as the plan is to install new toilets within the church that are more accessible.

Organiser Clive Greenwood said: “Jimmy was just so terrific. Everyone went out with a smile on their face and a spring in their step, and there were quite a few aching ribs from his continuous hilarity.

“What a performance. He attracted a large audience and helped generate over £1,000 towards the Church Development Fund. Thank you.”

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.