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Tony Crane

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, folks! 150 150 mhamer

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year, folks!

Jimmy Cricket's Christmas card features new US president Donald TrumpDear readers,

I cannot believe 2016 is coming to an end and the Christmas season is once more upon us.

This year has been a fantastic one for me personally as it all started back in January with a service led by the Bishop of Salford to formally award me with my Papal Knighthood.

During the year I have also been fortunate to have:

·         Been involved in some great shows, such as the You Must Be Joking, which toured Northern Ireland back in the spring, and the opening weekend of The Good Old Days autumn season at the world-famous City Varieties Theatre in Leeds

·         Made a couple of appearances alongside my friend Tony Crane and the iconic 60s band The Merseybeats

·         Had trips to Spain to appear in some lovely venues around the Costa Blanca region

·         Paid visits to the Warner Leisure sites at Nidd Hall in Harrogate and Bembridge on the Isle of Wight

·         Did a spring season at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool

·         Continued to write a monthly column in the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post

·         And managed, at long last, to launch a new Christmas CD for the Francis House Children’s Hospice – a project I’ve been wanting to get off the ground for a couple of years. As I write this, I am nearing sales of more than 1,300 from this year’s festive period.

This Christmas I am at the White Rose Theatre in Leeds featuring in a panto production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

And then when we get into 2017, I immediately fly off to Tenerife for an appearance there early in the New Year!

And there’s more…

… Other highlights for 2017 include a return to the Benidorm Palace in March alongside Gerry and the Pacemakers; another residency back at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool over the winter, spring and the autumn; teaming up with my pals from  show band group Clubsound for a night in Northern Ireland In April; a visit to the Wayside Cheer Hotel in Guernsey over the Easter weekend; a voyage with Cruise & Maritime Voyages around the Faroe Islands in July; and plenty more to keep me out of mischief!

If you see me advertised at any venue near you in 2017, please do come along and say ‘Hi’!

That reminds me… can I thank all those who over the last year have either seen one of my shows, or browsed this website, or bought one of my CDs or DVDs.

All that remains for me to say, dear readers, is have a happy Christmas and a great start to the New Year!

Jimmy Cricket's signature

Return to the Benidorm Palace beckons in 2017 150 150 mhamer

Return to the Benidorm Palace beckons in 2017

benidorm_palace

Jimmy Cricket will be returning to the Benidorm Palace in the Alicante region of Spain during the spring of 2017.

The popular 71-year-old entertainer made his first appearance there last autumn (below right) and he is back at this premier venue on the Spanish coastline, which is a real hit with British tourists.

Jimmy Cricket performing at the Benidorm Palace

His visit is scheduled for Sunday 5 March, when he will be the special guest on a bill that will also feature the 60s band Gerry and The Pacemakers as the headliners.

The show has been put together by Jimmy’s friend, Tony Crane, who is one of the founding members and lead singers of The Merseybeats – another band from the 1960s.

Although this glitzy concert hall (pictured above and below) is owned by an English family, throughout the year it hosts not just British shows but concerts for the local Spanish population as well.

Jimmy said: “I’m a real fan of this venue that has a tremendous reputation as the place to appear at within this region of Spain.”

Benidorm Palace

Rocking with laughter – and with The Merseybeats 150 150 mhamer

Rocking with laughter – and with The Merseybeats

Tony Crane of The Merseybeats and his son, Adrian, with Jimmy Cricket

Jimmy Cricket rocked with both laughter and music when he paired up with legendary 60s band The Merseybeats for a special Sunday afternoon show on this year’s Father’s Day.

The double header was presented at the Brindley Theatre in Runcorn under the appropriate title of Rock with Laughter.

Jimmy Cricket performs at the Brindley Theatre in Runcorn

It gelled nicely as all-round entertainer Jimmy had worked with the Merseybeats previously. He gets on well with their lead singer and original founder Tony Crane.

There was also an extra aspect to The Merseybeats for this concert, given the Father’s Day context, as the band also included Tony’s son, Adrian, who was on keyboards (Jimmy, Tony and Adrian are pictured above).

Comic Jimmy, 70, delivered his inimitable brand of daft and visual comedy, while The Merseybeats ran through their great litany of hits, including Sorrow and Wishin’ and hopin’.

Jimmy said: “I thought the afternoon went really well and hope to match up once again with The Merseybeats in the not-too-distant future.”