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the krankies

‘Legend series continues with the one and only Jimmy Cricket’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Legend series continues with the one and only Jimmy Cricket’

Jimmy Cricket performs in Cheshire at the weekend as part of a comedy legend series.

Jimmy Cricket performs in Cheshire at the weekend as part of a comedy legend series.

The Northern Ireland entertainer appears at the Whitby Sports and Social Club in Ellesmere Port.

Sunday’s show (29 June) – billed as An Afternoon with Jimmy Cricket – begins at 2.30pm. Doors open at 1.30.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit this webpage.

Jimmy posted on social media: “Hi folks, this coming Sunday afternoon I’ll be on stage doing my act and chatting with my friend Bobby Murdock and doing a meet and greet.

“Why not drop in, you will be warmly welcomed!”

A company called Who Dares Grins are organising the event.

The website looking after the booking process says: “Our comedy legend series continues with the one and only Jimmy Cricket.

“We have him here for an afternoon of fun and laughter on Sunday 29th June at The Whitby Club in Ellesmere Port.

“Jimmy Cricket’s act is a unique blend of observational comedy, storytelling, and musical performance, often featuring self-deprecating humor and a focus on everyday life and the human condition, all delivered with a charming and engaging stage presence.

“TV credits include Bullseye, the Royal Variety Show and The Krankies Klub.

“Jimmy has toured with The Osmonds, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Frank Carson and many more.”

Also read from this website: Tickets are selling fast for big birthday bash

Show business? More like monkey business! 150 150 mhamer

Show business? More like monkey business!

A planned television sketch starring Jimmy Cricket  alongside a chimpanzee ended being simply monkey business!A planned television sketch starring Jimmy Cricket alongside a chimpanzee made a monkey out of the producer!

Comedian Jimmy tells the funny story in his latest newspaper column.

Writing in the Lancashire Evening Post, Jimmy says…

My past may not have been murky, but it certainly got a bit muddled at times.

In the early 90s I hosted a children’s TV series called The Joke Machine, produced by an ITV regional company at the time called Border Television.

Previous hosts had been The Krankies and Stu Francis and the series did exactly what it said on the tin – we went round schools, in the Carlisle area, asking the boys and girls to tell their favourite jokes to camera.

Then we invited the schools in question to the studio, where I performed sketches with guest artistes, to add a bit of variety to the mix.

I remember a boxer sketch with a famous fighter of that time called John Conteh and another one where TV comedy actor Paul Shane who played Ted Bovis in the hit TV comedy sit com Hi-de-Hi! and I dressed up in budgie costumes… as you do.

Our producer, Henry, approached me one day to say he’d booked a chimp to do a sketch with me.

Yes, you heard right readers – chimp as in chimpanzee.

“What exactly is the concept of the sketch, Henry?” I enquired.

“We don’t need a concept,” retorted Henry.

Unbounded enthusiasm

“Chimps are naturally funny. They steal every show they go on

“Remember those Tarzan movies we saw in the cinemas when we were kids.

“His best friend was a chimp called Cheetah. He was hilarious, he even had his own fan club!”

Henry’s unbounded enthusiasm washed away all my scepticism and he finished by saying: “We’ll put you and the chimp together at a table, put a few snacks in front of you both and let the cameras roll.”

On the day of the shoot, the chimp turned up very dapperly dressed in his trousers, braces, and T-shirt with his minder who placed him beside me at the table and Henry shouted “action, roll ’em!”

So, what happened, I hear you saying to yourselves.

Well, absolutely nothing happened.

The chimp just sat there staring at me and I stared straight back at him.

Bunch of bananas

After five minutes of this deafening silence, Henry rushed out of his director’s box and on to the studio floor barking instructions at me.

“Pinch one of his biscuits! Tickle his toes!”

All of which I duly did, but to no avail. The chimp didn’t move a muscle.

In fact, I was half expecting him to lean across and say: “Let’s play it dumb and we’ll divide the dosh between us!”

Eventually, an exhausted – and disconsolate – Henry shouted “cut!” and went for a lie-down.

I went for a cup of tea and the chimp headed straight to his minder who was waving a bunch of bananas.

I felt so sorry for Henry. The chimp must have cost him a few bob.

Perhaps we got him on a bad day? That’s showbiz!

Jimmy’s autobiography available now!

Don’t forget that Jimmy’s official autobiography is still 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.

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

Read more about Jimmy’s life and career here.

All his tour bookings and other events can be found here.

‘The good old days’… ‘love this’… ‘complete legends’ 150 150 mhamer

‘The good old days’… ‘love this’… ‘complete legends’

A photograph featuring several comedy legends, including Jimmy Cricket, attracted plenty of interest on social media.

The picture, taken on the Central Pier at Blackpool, also includes The Krankies, Frank Carson, Paul Daniels and double act (Tommy) Cannon and (Bobby) Ball.

Hundreds of people liked the Facebook post, which got a lot of comments.

It was posted by Marky Ashworth and could be seen on The Official Cannon & Ball Facebook Group page.

Here are a selection of the many comments made about this gathering of famous entertainers.

“Great summer line up.”

“Back in the days of real comics.”

“The good old days!”

“When you could go on holiday around the country and see three or four shows in a week at seaside piers/theatres.”

“Bet that was a good night out!”
“What a great photo.”
“Love this!”
“My childhood growing up.”
“A gaggle of legends.”
“What a great group.”
“Complete Legends.”
“Wow all LEGENDS.”
“That’s a great picture, very funny and talented people.”
Autobiography
Don’t forget that Jimmy Cricket’s autobiography is on sale.
Memoirs Of An Irish Comedian is priced at £11.99 as a paperback.

It is also available as an ebook priced £9.99 (unless you have subscribed to Kindle Unlimited, in which case it is free).

Amazon Kindle allows users to read ebooks purchased on Amazon.

Jimmy has said he is happy to sign copies of the book at his live shows, where they are available for a discounted price of £10.

The autobiography tells the heart-warming story of his 50 golden years in showbusiness – told in his own words.

Recognisable for wearing a funny hat and green wellies marked L and R on the wrong feet, Jimmy has been making people laugh as a professional comedian for half a century.

And he proudly keeps his comedy clean – increasingly rare these days –  making him the perfect family entertainer.

The book is available from online retailer Amazon here.

Mary’s Meals

His best-known catchphrases include ‘And there’s more!’ and ‘Come closer!’

He is also famed for reading out Letters from his Mammy, which have provided the material for two published books.

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: Mary’s Meals: 20 years serving global communities

From bingo caller to 50 Golden Years in showbiz!

Facebook & Twitter profile photos show celebrities 150 150 mhamer

Facebook & Twitter profile photos show celebrities

Jimmy Cricket has changed his Facebook and Twitter profile pictures

The Facebook and Twitter profile pictures for Jimmy Cricket now show him with a host of fellow celebrities and friends.

The Northern Irish comedian has put the same image on both social media platforms.

The Krankies, plus the late entertainers Paul Daniels and Frank Carson, are among those on the photo.

Additionally, Tommy Cannon and his late comedy partner Bobby Ball feature on the picture.

Reaction to the new image has been very positive.
Gary Wilson said: “Wow my childhood in one photo! What an amazing lineup.”
And Rod Barry commented: “That’s a proper variety line up!
Paul Naylor described it as a “great picture”, adding that it was “variety at its best”.
Meanwhile, Michelle Carrots Campbell said: “Fabulous image of true talent. So many no longer with us…”
Jimmy has nearly 5,000 friends on Facebook, while his Twitter account has more than 9,000 followers.
The popular funnyman has just marked 12 years with a Twitter account.
He has been a Facebook member for a similar length of time.

Also read: Paying tribute to Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy

Blackpool big night out

 

Bobby Ball: An original, funny man – we all loved him 150 150 mhamer

Bobby Ball: An original, funny man – we all loved him

Shocked and saddened to hear about my friend Bobby Ball, an original funny man, he made us laugh and cry, we all loved him. With his partner Tommy, Cannon and Ball were one of the finest Comedy Double Acts to grace our stages! Our thoughts & prayers are with Yvonne and his family!

Jimmy Cricket said he was “shocked and saddened” to hear fellow comedian and friend Bobby Ball had died.

Bobby, one half of the famous comedy double act Cannon and Ball, passed away at Blackpool Victoria Hospital on Wednesday aged 76.

The actor and comedian had tested positive for Covid-19.

His long-time friend and colleague Tommy Cannon led the tributes to Bobby, saying: “Rock on, my good friend, I can’t believe this, I’m devastated.”

Bobby also starred in several popular sitcoms.

They included Not Going Out, Last of the Summer Wine and Benidorm.

Jimmy said Bobby – pictured right on the photo above – was “an original funny man”.

He added: “He made us laugh and cry, we all loved him.

“With his partner Tommy, Cannon and Ball were one of the finest Comedy Double Acts to grace our stages!

“Our thoughts & prayers are with Yvonne and his family.”

Bobby was born in Oldham on 28 January 1944.

He met Tommy while working in a factory as a welder.

Cannon and Ball – their real names are Thomas Derbyshire and Robert Harper – began their entertainment careers as comedians on the cabaret circuit in the north of England.

Bobby was famous for twanging his braces on stage and saying: “Rock on, Tommy!”

The other famous entertainers on the photo above – including Jimmy of course – are the Krankies, Frank Carson and Paul Daniels.

Also read: Jimmy inspired to write show after seeing success of fellow comedian Bobby Ball’s first steps into writing for the stage

 

Keith Harris tribute show: Double DVD coming soon! 150 150 mhamer

Keith Harris tribute show: Double DVD coming soon!

See the video of the Keith Harris tribute show, recorded live at Viva Blackpool, featuring: The Krankies, The Grumbleweeds, Steve Rawlings, Ben Simmons, Keith Simmons, Christopher Biggins, Duncan Norvell, Steve Royle, Ivan Brackenbury, Kitty Harris, The Inspire Dancers, Bobby Crush, Steve Hewlett Ventriloquist, Jimmy Cricket, Mooky the clown, Hacker the dog and many more!

A double DVD of a special tribute show in which Jimmy Cricket and a host of other well-known entertainers performed is to go on sale soon.

The Keith Harris tribute show, recorded live at Viva Blackpool in September this year, also featured the likes of The Krankies, The GrumbleweedsSteve Rawlings, Christopher Biggins, Duncan Norvell, Steve Royle, Bobby Crush and Mooky the clown.

It is expected that the DVD will be finished within the next few weeks and pre-orders are being taken. If you pre order now, you can purchase for a special price of £18.99. The release price will be £21.99.

All proceeds will go towards The Keith Harris & Orville Statue Fund as part of a campaign to erect a memorial in Blackpool for the late ventriloquist.

For more details and to watch the DVD trailer, go here.

Eyes & Teeth took place on 21 September in memory of Keith, who died in Blackpool aged 67 in 2015.

He was best known for his television show The Keith Harris Show (from 1982 to 1990) and for his appearances with his puppets Orville the Duck and Cuddles the Monkey.

Northern Irish comedian Jimmy had posted the following message (and photo below) on social media after the show: “What an achievement for and lovely who organised “The Keith Harris Tribute Show” with great acts and legends such as Mooky, reminded me of the old days, Midnight Matinees.”

What an achievement for @ventriloquist29 and lovely @nina_strobe who organised @VIVABlackpool “The Keith Harris Tribute Show” with great acts and legends such as @theBobbyCrush @TheKrankiesUK @steveroylecomic @sasKeithandBen Mooky, reminded me of the old days, Midnight Matinees

Keith Harris tribute show – ‘great acts and legends!’ 150 150 mhamer

Keith Harris tribute show – ‘great acts and legends!’

What an achievement for @ventriloquist29 and lovely @nina_strobe who organised @VIVABlackpool “The Keith Harris Tribute Show” with great acts and legends such as @theBobbyCrush @TheKrankiesUK @steveroylecomic @sasKeithandBen Mooky, reminded me of the old days, Midnight Matinees

Jimmy Cricket appeared with a host of fellow entertainers in memory of their late colleague and friend Keith Harris in Blackpool.

Eyes & Teeth took place at the Viva Blackpool on Friday (21 September), with all the money raised going towards The Keith Harris & Orville Statue Fund as part of a campaign to erect a memorial in the town for the late ventriloquist.

Keith, who died in Blackpool aged 67 in 2015, was best known for his television show The Keith Harris Show (from 1982 to 1990) and for his appearances with his puppets Orville the Duck and Cuddles the Monkey.

Other stars taking part in Friday’s show included Christopher Biggins, Bobby Davro and The Krankies.

Jimmy posted the following message on social media afterwards, along with the photos above: “What an achievement for and lovely who organised “The Keith Harris Tribute Show” with great acts and legends such as Mooky, reminded me of the old days, Midnight Matinees.”