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wellies

Ken Dodd, Christmas CD and those stolen wellies 150 150 mhamer

Ken Dodd, Christmas CD and those stolen wellies

Jimmy Cricket's column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket has been talking about his long-time friend and comedy legend Ken Dodd – and the concrete wellington boots stolen from his back garden four years ago.

Ken had given the wellies to Rochdale-based entertainer Jimmy as a 50th birthday present, but they vanished overnight and have not been seen since.

As well as featuring catchphrases like “come closer!” and “…and there’s more!” in his act, Northern Irishman Jimmy is also famous for wearing wellingtons marked with the letters R and L, but on the wrong feet, on stage.

In his latest column for the Lancashire Evening Post, Jimmy recalls the moment he reported the theft.

“The lady at the police station desk could hardly keep a straight face as she wrote down my description of the stolen items – a pair of grey concrete wellington boots with the inscription: ‘To Jimmy from Ken, lots of happiness.'”

Jimmy, 71, says that even though he got a replacement pair of wellies off eBay – again signed by Ken – he would still like the originals back – as illustrated in the title of his new new charity Christmas CD, Santa bring my wellies back to me.

Of his friendship with Ken, Jimmy says: “Even today Ken is enthralling audiences with his five and six-hour marathon shows.

“There’ll never be another and I’m proud to call him my friend.”

* Jimmy’s charity Christmas CD  is available to buy from this website through a PayPal facility or in person directly from the Francis House Children’s Hospice.

Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD on sale 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD on sale

Jimmy Cricket's new Christmas CD, Santa Bring My Wellies Back To Me

Jimmy Cricket has produced a video advert for his new Christmas CD, which is now on sale.

The CD is in aid of the Francis House Children’s Hospice in south Manchester and will be available for purchase either via the online shopping facility on this website or from Francis House direct.

The advert was filmed and edited by Dom Hyndman of Inspired Video. It can be viewed on the homepage of this website and on Jimmy’s YouTube channel.

Note sheet for Jimmy Cricket's Santa Bring My Wellies Back To Me

It wonderfully illustrates the theme top entertainer Jimmy has devised for this CD as Dom spent an afternoon filming one of the recording days at the Gracieland recording studio – owned by Rochdale-born singer, song-writer and actress Lisa Stansfield.

Children from St Patrick’s RC Primary School choir in Rochdale helped Jimmy, 70, with the recording of the CD (picture below).

Jimmy Cricket at the recording of his forthcoming Christmas CD

The advert also features Jimmy himself explaining a bit about the new album, which is titled Santa bring my wellies back to me.

The new Christmas CD will be officially launched at Francis House on the evening of Wednesday 12 October, but copies can be purchased now!

“Those who buy it will know they have made a much-needed contribution to such a worthy cause as Francis House,” said Jimmy.

* Jimmy Cricket’s Christmas CD in aid of the Francis House Children’s Hospice is priced at £5 and be available for purchase from either the hospice direct or from the online shop at Jimmy’s website, www.jimmycricket.co.uk

Jimmy Cricket sang his Christmas CD songs with children from St Patrick's RC School in Rochdale

Famous wellingtons get their own photo shoot! 150 150 mhamer

Famous wellingtons get their own photo shoot!

Jimmy Cricket's famous wellingtons

Jimmy Cricket’s famous trademark wellies were recently the subject of a photo shoot!

It followed a request from Andy Hollingworth,  a photographer who specialises in comedy.

Andy wanted to capture an image of Jimmy’s wellies (above, in black and white) for an exciting project, which involves him photographing iconic artefacts linked to famous comedians – either from mainstream or alternative comedy.

Well-known Northern Irish entertainer Jimmy, 70, is famous for wearing the green wellington boots – marked with the letters R and L – on the wrong feet during his acts.

Andy has already photographed Eric Morecambe’s glasses, Norman Wisdom’s cap, Mr Bean’s teddy, Alan Carr’s glasses and he even flew over to Los Angeles to meet Harpo Marx’s family, who gave him permission to photograph his famous harp.

Andy met Jimmy at his house in Rochdale to snap the famous wellies – and the two (pictured below) had a great chat about comedy, which lasted longer than expected!

* Photos are copyright of Andy Hollingworth Archive

Jimmy Cricket and Andy Hollingworth

Jimmy Cricket & co a hit at golf club 150 150 mhamer

Jimmy Cricket & co a hit at golf club

Jimmy Cricket with Buzz Hawkins from the Bradshaws, and impressionist Johnny More

Jimmy Cricket will return to a golf club in north Manchester later this year following a recent successful charity show there.

The fundraising event, A Night with the Stars, took place at Blackley golf club and was in aid of the Red Cross and the Ebola crises appeal.

The fundraising event took place at Blackley golf club and was in aid of the Red Cross and the Ebola crises appeal

Jimmy graced the club alongside Buzz Hawkins from the Bradshaws, the impressionist Johnny More (all three are pictured above) and a host of other performers.

Tony Horsfield and Eric Devereux, both very good friends of Jimmy, were the organisers of the event.

It must have been a good night, as Jimmy has already been asked to return to the same venue for his own comedy evening that is being organised by the club captain and his entertainment team.

‘Man in wellies & battered hat saves the day’ 150 150 mhamer

‘Man in wellies & battered hat saves the day’

Jimmy Cricket's latest column in the Lancashire Evening Post

Jimmy Cricket has been reminiscing about the era of the comedy song and how he hopes he has helped keep it alive.

In his latest column for the Preston-based Lancashire Evening Post, the famous entertainer recalls “the many comedy and novelty songs that used to permeate the airwaves in the 50s and 60s”.

He adds: “Commercial radio stations all have playlists now. This means they only play songs that appeal to younger audiences , which companies who advertise with them deem to be possible customers. That’s how the commercial radio stations make their money.

Jimmy Cricket's Light & Shade

“However, you can still hear comedy and novelty songs on BBC radio stations, especially on their request shows.

“However, fear not dear readers.

“Just when you thought the comedy song was a footnote in the history of popular music, along comes the man in the wellies and the battered hat to save the day!

“Yes, my new CD called Light & Shade contains gems like ‘my budgie’s been tweeting for years’ and ‘I got blotto when I thought I’d won the lotto’.”

Light & Shade was officially released on 1 February and is available for £6 at www.jimmycricketshop.co.uk and at Jimmy’s live shows.

In the inside sleeve, Jimmy talks about the history behind the CD, which features a mixture of serious and comedy songs.

A special guest on tour of world-famous Osmonds 150 150 mhamer

A special guest on tour of world-famous Osmonds

Jimmy Cricket will be teaming up with the world-famous Osmonds for a special Christmas tour later this year

Jimmy Cricket is teaming up with several of the world-famous Osmonds for a special tour of the UK later this year.

The well-known Northern Irishman comedian will be a special guest for the series of shows, called the Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular, throughout the month of December.

The Osmonds are an American family music group with a long and varied history as star performers.

They started their musical careers as children and achieved further success as teen-music idols, going on to produce a hit television show and also perform as solo and group artists.

The Osmonds group first comprised brothers Alan, Wayne, Merril and Jay Osmond. They were later joined by younger siblings Donny – the most famous of all of them – and Jimmy. Their only sister Marie, who rarely sang with her brothers at that time, launched a successful solo career in 1973.

Jimmy said: “The month of December has traditionally meant pantomime time and this tour will be quite a departure for me.

“Nonetheless, it is an exciting prospect and I cannot wait to team up with the Osmonds, who have a global following and reputation.

“Although I love the art form of pantomime and the attraction it holds for children and families, I have thought for some time that there should be an alternative offering out there over the Christmas period.

“This show fits the bill perfectly and the atmosphere at each venue will be so uplifting that those in attendance will definitely leave in the Christmas spirit!”

Tickets for the tour will go on pre-sale from Wednesday morning (March 25), with tickets on general sale from Friday.

Full list of dates and venues for the Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular are as follows:

DECEMBER

TUES 8 – MALVERN Theatres 01684 892277 www.malvern-theatres.co.uk

WED 9 – GUILDFORD G Live 0844 7701 797 www.GLive.co.uk

THURS 10 – WORTHING Assembly Hall 01903 206206 www.worthingtheatres.co.uk

FRI 11 – HARROGATE International Centre 01423 502116 www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

SAT 12 – CROYDON Fairfield Halls 020 8688 9291 www.fairfield.co.uk

SUN 13 – WATFORD Colosseum 0845 075 3993 www.watfordcolosseum.co.uk

MON 14 – MARGATE Winter Gardens 01843 292795 www.margatewintergardens.co.uk

TUES 15 – EASTBOURNE Congress Theatre 01323 412000 www.eastbournetheatres.co.uk

WED 16 – LONDON Indigo2 08448 244824 www.axs.com

THURS 17 – WOLVERHAMPTON Civic Hall 0870 320 7000 www.wolvescivic.co.uk

FRI 18 – BRADFORD St George’s Hall 01274 432000 www.bradford-theatres.co.uk

SAT 19 – BURNLEY Mechanics Theatre 01282 664400 www.burnleymechanics.co.uk

SUN 20 – NEWCASTLE City Hall 0191 277 8030 www.newcastlecityhall.org

MON 21 – EDINBURGH Queens Theatre 0131 668 2019 www.thequeenshall.net

TUES 22 – CHESTERFIELD Winding Wheel 01246 345222 www.chesterfieldtheatres.co.uk

The tour is promoted by Tony Denton Promotions and  for more information about the show and for links to each individual venue, please go to the Tony Denton Promotions website at www.tdpromo.com

Dancing in the Lancashire snow 150 150 mhamer

Dancing in the Lancashire snow

Jimmy Cricket in the snowJimmy Cricket clearly enjoyed the snowy weather when he visited Oswaldtwistle Arts Centre ahead of his comedy show there later this month.

When the famous entertainer arrived at the Lancashire venue, the weather had created a dramatic snowy backdrop.

This fine image was captured by freelance photographer Tim Bradley, who had been hired by the Lancashire Evening Telegraph to take some snaps of Jimmy’s visit to the arts centre.

Jimmy has known Tim for a long time as he used to be the picture editor of the local paper where the well-known comedian is based in Rochdale.

Visit Tim’s website at www.timbradleyphotography.com or social media page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tim-Bradley-Photography/200909469950660.

See “who” greeted Jimmy on his visit to Oswaldtwistle Arts Centre.

* Jimmy’s comedy stand-up show takes place at the Oswaldtwistle Arts Centre on Saturday 21 February (7.30pm start), with all tickets £10. For information on how to book, visit here.