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Tommy Cannon

‘Unforgettable evening of sensational variety and hilarious comedy’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Unforgettable evening of sensational variety and hilarious comedy’
Three comedy legends will headline an evening of "comedy and variety for all the family" in Blackpool later this year.Three legendary comics will headline a show of “comedy and variety for all the family” in Blackpool later this year.
Jimmy Cricket, Tommy Cannon and Mick Miller are starring in Rule Brit-Ha-nnia on Friday 24 October.
It takes place at The Joe Longthorne Theatre, which is on the North pier.
The Ticket Source website says it will be an “unforgettable evening of sensational variety and hilarious comedy”.
It adds: “Book early for an evening of the Best of British!”
Joining the three comedians on stage are ITV’s Britain’s Got Talent performer Ben Nickless (impressionist), Steve Hewlett (ventriloquist) and Siobhan Phillips (comedian).
International juggler Jon Udry is also performing in the show, which will be hosted by compere Jack Land Noble.
Go here for the book details (https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/booking/venueplan/qvlddvolrvrn).
The length of the show is two hours and 30 minutes (including a 20-minute interval).
‘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

 

Picture posted in honour of those lost to Covid 150 150 mhamer

Picture posted in honour of those lost to Covid

The profile picture was in honour of those lost to Covid-19

Jimmy Cricket updated his profile picture on social media to remember those who have died during the coronavirus pandemic.

The famous comedian uploaded a photograph of him alongside several other well-known celebrities.

They included the late Frank Carson and also fellow funnyman Bobby Ball, who died in October aged 76.

Bobby, one half of the popular comedy double act Cannon and Ball, passed away at Blackpool Victoria Hospital.

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

Bobby starred in several popular sitcoms.

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

Jimmy posted the photo on Tuesday 23 March, which marked exactly one year since the first coronavirus lockdown.

Tommy Cannon and Wee Jimmy Frankie also featured on the picture.

The text on the photo said: “In honour of those lost to Covid-19” and “UK national day of reflection.”

A national minute’s silence was held at midday, which parliaments across the UK paused business to observe.

On 23 March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced tough restrictions on people’s lives aimed at stopping the spread of Covid-19.

Since then, the UK’s official death toll has risen from 364 to more than 126,000.

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

‘I enjoyed that Cocker!’ The first time I met Bobby Ball 150 150 mhamer

‘I enjoyed that Cocker!’ The first time I met Bobby Ball

Jimmy Cricket's Lancashire Post column about the late Bobby Ball

Jimmy Cricket remembers the late, great Bobby Ball in his newspaper column for November.

Bobby, one half of the famous comedy double act Cannon and Ball, died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital in October aged 76.

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

Bobby had also starred in several popular sitcoms.

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

In his latest column in the Lancashire Post, Jimmy recalls his first meeting with Bobby and Tommy.

He says: “I first met Bobby Ball at the Candlelight Club in Oldham.

“I had just come off stage and my friend, the singer Jonathan Young, told me that he and his partner Tommy were standing at the bar.

“And they seemed to be enjoying my act.

“Although at that time they had not broken into television, they were a very popular act in the clubs around the country.

‘Brothers in showbusiness’

“I was keen to meet up with them, so I changed quickly and headed for the bar.

“Tommy at the time was engrossed in a conversation with someone, but Bobby Ball shook my hand warmly.

“He said to me: ‘I enjoyed that Cocker, they were a tough crowd, but you got them in the end.

“‘I loved the visual stuff that you did.'”

Jimmy also recalled: “When I found out later Bobby was a neighbour of mine in Rochdale, I rang to tell him that I had written a sketch for him and Tommy in which they played two First Aid Men.

“He invited me to his home where I met his lovely wife Yvonne.

“During our conversation he told me something that really resonated with me.

“He said to me: ‘Jimmy as you develop your on-stage character you’ll die less and less.’

”It was an incredibly insightful thing to say and I treasured the fact that he’d passed his keen knowledge of comedy on to a fellow pro.”

Jimmy finishes his column by saying: “A few months ago before it was offered funding, I tweeted about the Grand Theatre in Blackpool’s future being in doubt.

“Bobby retweeted the message.

“We were brothers in showbusiness trying to save a beautiful theatre for future generations.

“He will be sadly missed by all his friends in the entertainment industry as well as his many fans.”

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

‘Wonderful news’ about Blackpool’s Grand Theatre!

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

 

The Big Issue’s summer special features celebs 150 150 mhamer

The Big Issue’s summer special features celebs

Jimmy Cricket features in the summertime special of The Big Issue

Jimmy Cricket is among a host of famous entertainers – described as “old-school greats” – to feature in the summertime edition of The Big Issue.

Others include Cannon and Ball, the Chuckle Brothers, Sue Pollard from Hi-de-Hi!, Bernie Clifton and Joe Pasquale.

The Big Issue is a street newspaper founded by John Bird and Gordon Roddick in September 1991 and published on four continents. It is written by professional journalists and sold by individuals.

Its charitable foundation helps enable people who are homeless take control of their lives and earn a legitimate income.

Paul McNamee, editor of The Big Issue, posted on Twitter: “Very excited by our Summer Special, featuring old school greats including , Bernie Clifton, Chuckle Brothers & Sooty. What are you waiting for?

Mr McNamee is the first editor to manage The Big Issue across all national and regional editions as well as online.

A regular media commentator, he has been named Editor of the Year three times by PPA Scotland, and was named British Editor of The Year in 2013 and 2016 by the BSME (British Society of Magazine Editors).