Jimmy Cricket is appearing in a show in Birmingham later this month in aid of a children’s charity.
A Variety Performance will take place on Sunday 29 April (7.15pm start) at the New Alexandra Theatre and also features West End & TV star Gary Wilmot in addition to a host of other acts.
The charity gala will raise funds for Molly Olly’s Wishes, which supports families of children with terminal and life-threatening illnesses.
Jimmy 
Cricket appeared with a host of fellow entertainers in a show called Day By The Sea at the weekend.
The famous Irish funnyman appeared at the one-day event of comedy, music and song at the Royal Hippodrome theatre in Eastbourne.
Also on the bill was Jimmy’s big pal Don Maclean, an English actor and comedian who appeared on the BBC television series Crackerjack with Michael Aspel, Peter Glaze and Jan Hunt in the 1970s.
Sue Devaney, known for television roles in Coronation Street, Jonny Briggs, Casualty and Dinnerladies as well as being a regular stage performer, and English pop singer, jazz singer and actress Helen Shapiro were also among the entertainers.
The event, which took place last Saturday, was organised by the British Music Hall Society.
Jimmy, 71, said: “Great morning spent with old friends! I was on at 10.50am and the audience was amazing, really ready for a variety show at that time of the morning!”
Jimmy Cricket’s recent performance at the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley, Leicestershire, was captured on film.
Matt Holt took these photographs, which are courtesy of MGL Media.
It was the second of two variety shows, which well-known entertainer Jimmy did with Midlands crooner Michael George.
The other one took place at the Trinity Arts Centre in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, seven days earlier.
They each featured Michael, his wonderful eight-piece band, his troupe of dancers, a supporting female vocalist, and comedian Jimmy as the special guest star.
The Concordia Theatre show is an annual event, which Michael holds each year to raise money for charity, with all proceeds going to Leicestershire-based Hope Against Cancer.
Jimmy said: “I enjoyed working with Michael at both the Gainsborough and Hinckley shows and found his enthusiasm for performing just wonderful to see.”
Jimmy Cricket teamed up with the Midlands crooner Michael George to do two variety shows across two counties.
The performances, both organised and funded by Michael himself, took place at the Trinity Arts Centre in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, and the Concordia Theatre in Hinckley, Leicestershire.
They each featured Michael, his wonderful eight-piece band, his troupe of dancers, a supporting female vocalist, and comedian Jimmy as the special guest star.
The Concordia Theatre show is an annual charity event, which Michael holds each year to raise money for charity, with all proceeds going to Leicestershire-based Hope Against Cancer (as reported in the Hinckley Times newspaper, below).
Well-known Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy said: “I really enjoyed appearing alongside Michael, who I think has an infectious desire for performing and singing.
“Both shows went down very well with those who were in attendance and I enjoyed immensely my time on stage in both Gainsborough and Hinckley.”
Almost 450 people attended the Pauline Helm Memorial Event at Burnley Football Club, where Jimmy Cricket was one of the entertainers.
The fund-raising gala dinner evening was organised by Pauline’s widower, Graham Helm (pictured below with Jimmy), and was held in one of the club’s main function suites, which was packed to the rafters with almost 450 people there.
It was hosted by BBC Radio Lancashire presenter Sally Naden and, apart from Jimmy’s contribution, the entertainment programme also featured Bacup-born international opera singer Sean Ruane (pictured below right with his wife) and music from the excellent band, A few good men.
Famous Northern Irish comedian Jimmy said: “The evening raised a magnificent £10,000 in total and this achieved figure was a richly deserved outcome for Graham after all of his efforts over a number of months in the lead-up to the event.”
The money raised will now be split between two great causes, with £7,000 being awarded to the local East Lancashire Hospice and £3,000 going to construct an outdoor performance space for young people in Burnley.
Famous actor and comedian Johnny Vegas is to appear in the Womble movie, which is being filmed on location in North Wales and also features entertainer Jimmy Cricket.
St Helens-born Johnny is well known for his appearances in the hit ITV comedy drama Benidorm and also for popping up in adverts for tea brand PG Tips with a stuffed puppet monkey!
His addition to the cast is another major coup for the people behind Womble the movie, as it also includes top comedian Jimmy, 69, who will play himself as a talent contest judge.
The film is about a man called Aloysius Rupert Womble (played by actor and comedian Tom Spencer), who is in his 30s and living with Asperger’s Syndrome in a typical seaside resort town.
Children and adults affected by Asperger’s Syndrome have difficulty with social interactions and exhibit a restricted range of interests and/or repetitive behaviours.
Aloysius’s dream is to become a stand-up comedian. The film is a week-long snapshot of his life as he goes through the trials of living with a cognitive disorder, while dealing with the injustices forced upon him by society and parts of his community.
Over the seven-day period he prepares for the biggest night of his life – a talent show in his local pub.
The film will feature songs from the Beautiful South’s former lead singer Briana Corrigan and American Pie star Thomas Nicholas, as well as a string of original songs written by songwriters especially for the movie.
Jimmy with Tom, Gemma and Georgina
Filming for the Womble movie in which Jimmy Cricket will play himself is now under way.
Famous entertainer Jimmy’s cameo role will be filmed on location in North Wales in June and he was recently involved in a photo shoot alongside the central character Womble, played by actor Tom Spencer.
Also at the promotional event, which was held at the Bojangles Theatre, home to the Middleton Popstars Academy in North Manchester, were director Lee Howard, co-writer and actress Gemma Jones, and fellow actress Georgina Ford.
Jimmy said: “I was very grateful to Anne (Marshall, director) and the Popstars organisation for hosting this activity and I am very excited about returning to the theatre later in the year for a show with the Popstars on Saturday the 11th of July.”
The film is about a man called Aloysius Rupert Womble (played by actor and comedian Tom), who is in his 30s and living with Asperger’s Syndrome in a typical seaside resort town.
Children and adults affected by Asperger’s Syndrome have difficulty with social interactions and exhibit a restricted range of interests and/or repetitive behaviours.
Aloysius’s dream is to become a stand-up comedian. The film is a week-long snapshot of his life as he goes through the trials of living with a cognitive disorder, while dealing with the injustices forced upon him by society and parts of his community.
Over the seven-day period he prepares for the biggest night of his life – a talent show in his local pub.
It will feature songs from the Beautiful South’s former lead singer Briana Corrigan and American Pie star Thomas Nicholas as well as a string of original songs written by songwriters especially for the movie.
Top comedian Jimmy, 69, will play himself as a talent contest judge.
