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the bachelors

Settling some old scores in the dressing room… 150 150 mhamer

Settling some old scores in the dressing room…

Jimmy Cricket's new play is called No more Fiffen and Faffen

The world premiere of Jimmy Cricket’s play is now just two months away.

No more Fiffing and Faffing will be staged for the first time at the Blackburn Empire Theatre on Sunday 16 September at 7.30pm.

Join comedy double act Joe Fiffen and Jerry Faffen on their last night in showbusiness. As well as their classic sketches, they’ll be settling some old scores in the dressing room.

Appearing with famous comedian Jimmy will be Jonathan Young from The Bachelors, and actor Colin Meredith, who has had several notable appearances in ITV’s Coronation Street over the years.

Read more about the play and book online here.

Tickets cost £10. You can also book by telephoning 01254 685 500. The theatre’s email address is boxoffice@blackburnempire.com

No more Fiffing and Faffing – the poster 150 150 mhamer

No more Fiffing and Faffing – the poster

Jimmy Cricket's new play is called No more Fiffen and Faffen

Here’s the poster publicising Jimmy Cricket’s forthcoming play, No more Fiffing and Faffing.

It will be staged for the first time at the Blackburn Empire Theatre on Sunday 16 September at 7.30pm.

Appearing with famous comedian Jimmy will be Jonathan Young from The Bachelors, and actor Colin Meredith, who has had several notable appearances in ITV’s Coronation Street over the years.

Read more about the play and book online here.

Tickets cost £10. You can also book by telephoning 01254 685 500. The theatre’s email address is boxoffice@blackburnempire.com

Jimmy, 72, has previously written three musicals, Let’s Hear It For The Wee Man, Maloney’s Big Moment and Give Me One Good Season.

Rochdale charity gala to Birmingham bingo club 150 150 mhamer

Rochdale charity gala to Birmingham bingo club

Mayor of Rochdale's charity gala

Jimmy Cricket was given a fabulous reception at two shows during the last weekend of January.

On the Friday, the 71-year-old popular entertainer was invited to perform at the Mayor of Rochdale’s charity gala at the Heywood Civic Centre.

The event was organised by his friend of many years, Cllr Peter Rush. Appearing alongside Jimmy was John Stokes’ Bachelors, comedian Dusty Young (who compered the proceedings), and the band Carnaby Street.

Jimmy Cricket performing at the Mayor of Rochdale's charity gala at the Heywood Civic Centre

Jimmy at the gala

It was staged in the presence of this year’s Mayor of Rochdale – Cllr Ray Dutton. All the proceeds from this special night of entertainment went to local Rochdale and Heywood Charities that are supported by this year’s Mayor.

The next night, Rochdale-based comedian Jimmy was down in Birmingham where he appeared at the BJ’s Bingo club (poster for the event is below) in the Kitts Green district of the city.

This was the second BJ’s Bingo club Jimmy had visited in six months,  as he was at their venue in Leigh last October.

Many thanks must go to the Birmingham general manager David Cooksley for arranging Jimmy’s visit.

BJ’s Bingo club

The day a legend arrived on public transport 150 150 mhamer

The day a legend arrived on public transport

The late American singer and actor Bing Crosby is the subject of Jimmy Cricket’s latest column in the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post.

Well-known entertainer Jimmy recalls when Crosby, “none other than the Old Groaner himself”, used public transport instead of a limousine when he appeared in a show in Preston in the late 1970s.

Crosby’s trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with more than half a billion records in circulation – including probably his best known, White Christmas.

“The reasons why Bing took the train instead of plumping for a chauffeur-driven limo are shrouded in mystery, but my guess is that he was a regular guy who liked mixing with ordinary people,” says Jimmy.

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy  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.

Bing Crosby is the subject of Jimmy Cricket's latest Lancashire Evening Post column

‘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.

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.

Night out with Ricky Tomlinson 150 150 mhamer

Night out with Ricky Tomlinson

Happy days... From left: Con, Ricky, Lauren, Maria and Jimmy

Happy days... From left: Con, Ricky, Lauren, Maria and Jimmy

Jimmy Cricket appeared at The Greenroom in Liverpool city centre as part of a St Patrick’s Day extravaganza on eve of the big day itself (16 March).

Ricky, Lauren and Jimmy

Ricky, Lauren and Jimmy

Also featured on this Irish-themed night of fun and frivolity was Con Cluskey from The Bachelors.

The Greenroom club on Duke Street is partly owned by famous comedian and actor Ricky Tomlinson.

Along with Jimmy, Ricky and Con on these pictures is Maria and her daughter Lauren – Maria and Jimmy share a good friend in John McArthy who was also at The Greenroom with his wife, Betty and daughter Erika.

Maria’s husband, Phil, is a DJ who goes around raising money for the local Liverpool Flame group which John McArthy helps to organise. The Flame Group sends disabled people over to Lourdes for Easter week from the Merseyside region.

Ricky, Maria and Jimmy

Ricky, Maria and Jimmy


Lauren and Jimmy

Lauren and Jimmy


Ricky with Lauren and Jimmy

Ricky with Lauren and Jimmy