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You Must Be Joking

You Must Be Joking 2016 plays to several sellouts 150 150 mhamer

You Must Be Joking 2016 plays to several sellouts

Jimmy Cricket, John Linehan (AKA May McFettridge), Gene Fitzpatrick and William CaulfieldJimmy Cricket has just finished a tour of his native Northern Ireland with a comedy show called You Must Be Joking.

He featured alongside three fellow Ulster comedians, John Linehan (AKA May McFettridge), Gene Fitzpatrick and William Caulfield.

The tour was born out of the 2014 Cookstown Comedy Festival, as the line-up was put together for the first time there with huge success.

Jimmy CricketThis merited a full tour of the province in 2015, with this year’s edition continuing its popularity with shows at Grand Opera House in Belfast and the Millennium Forum in Derry,  as well as at some of the major towns in the province.

The crowds were marvellous and large in number everywhere, even to the point where several venues were sold out, including the Ardhowen Theatre in Enniskillen.

The latest series of shows were organised by Northern Ireland’s leading tour promoter, David Hull Promotions.

Jimmy said: “I have known David for a number of years, having first worked for him during the mid-80s when I first launched myself on to the national stage.

“I would like to thank David for making You Must Be joking 2016 happen and for being a great friend and colleague over the years!”

From Belfast to Blackpool – You Must Be Joking 150 150 mhamer

From Belfast to Blackpool – You Must Be Joking

Jimmy Cricket with Aer Lingus Air stewardessesJimmy Cricket is taking part in the 2016 edition of the You Must Be Joking tour, the first leg of which was at the Grand Opera House in Belfast.

In the comedy show, which is aimed at the audiences of Northern Ireland, Jimmy features alongside three fellow renowned Northern Irish comedians, John Linehan (AKA May McFettridge), Gene Fitzpatrick and William Caulfield (all are pictured below right).

The tour was born out of the 2014 Cookstown Comedy Festival, as the line-up was put together for the first time there with huge success. Not only did the show gel and all four comedians complemented one another really well, there was a full house too!

This merited a full tour of the province in 2015, with this year’s events continuing the interest in the show and its popularity.

After the first  2016 date in Belfast, a slight gap in the tour schedule appeared before the remaining six dates. This has allowed Jimmy to get back to continue his commitments at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool where he has a spring season.Jimmy Cricket with fellow renowned North Irish comedians, John Linehan (AKA May McFettridge), Gene Fitzpatrick and William Caulfield

When Jimmy arrived at George Best International Airport in Belfast city centre to catch his return flight to Manchester, he bumped into several Aer Lingus air stewardesses (pictured above right) – one of them had been to see the 2015 tour and her grandparents had been to see this year’s opener at the Grand Opera House.

The rest of the dates for the 2016 tour are as follows:

·         Thursday  4 February – Millennium Forum, Derry

·         Friday 5 February – Theatre at the Mill, Newtonabbey

·         Saturday 6 February – Island Hall, Lisburn

·         Thursday 11 February – Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen

·         Friday 12 February – Market Place Theatre, Armagh

·         Saturday 13 February – Riverside Theatre, Coleraine

There’s more… Jimmy Cricket’s festive message 150 150 mhamer

There’s more… Jimmy Cricket’s festive message

Jimmy CricketDear Cricket Times readers,

Well, I cannot believe we have come to the end of another year!

When I look back over the last 12 months, I can safely say 2015 has been a special year for me. This is because not only did I turn 70 years old, but I was deeply humbled to receive the award of a papal knight from the Roman Catholic Church.

Over the course of the last year I have bumped into many of you at some of the wonderful shows I have appeared in, around a host of different locations and venues.

I should give special mention to the recent tour I have just finished with the Osmonds as part of the Andy Williams Christmas Spectacular. This was an amazing tour which visited venues that were incredibly well attended – many even sold out – and everywhere the show went the reception was warm and lively.

So thank you for coming along and seeing one of these shows, or keeping in touch through my website, Facebook pages or Twitter feed.

As we fast approach the New Year, I am pleased to say I have plenty to look forward to over the next 12 months, such as:

  • A 32-date spring season at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool
  • Participating in a seven-date tour of a great comedy show called You Must Be Joking around Northern Ireland in February
  • Embarking on a couple of trips to the Benidorm region of Spain to appear at some fantastic venues
  • Visiting the Warner holiday resorts and heritage hotel locations on the Isle of Wight and in Harrogate
  • The first significant moment is scheduled for Saturday 16 January when the Bishop of Salford will formally preside over a ceremony to present me with my papal honour.

So if I did not catch you during the last year, maybe I might get a chance to bump into you in 2016?

All that remains for me to do is to wish you and your family a very happy, peaceful and joyful Christmas season and a wonderful start to the New Year!

Jimmy Cricket (23 December 2015)

Sellout for comedy tour’s opening night 150 150 mhamer

Sellout for comedy tour’s opening night

Jimmy Cricket, John Linehan (aka May McFettridge), William Caulfield and Gene Fitzpatrick

The You Must Be Joking tour that reunited Jimmy Cricket with three fellow well-known Northern Ireland comedians had a first-night sellout.

Jimmy Cricket and fellow entertainers

Jimmy headlined the series of comedy shows, which also featured John Linehan (aka May McFettridge), William Caulfield and Gene Fitzpatrick.

It was a recreation of a successful format that was part of the 2013 Cookstown Comedy Festival.

The tour was hosted by four major theatres across Northern Ireland, with the opening night playing to a full house at the Grand Opera House in Belfast.

It then visited Newtonabbey and Derry before ending with a trip to the Market Place Arts Centre in Armagh.

The quartet of entertainers also appeared on the Gerry Kelly radio show at the BBC Radio Ulster studio in Belfast.

The tour was organised by Northern Ireland’s premier promotions company, David Hull Promotions, who are based in Belfast.

Jimmy Cricket and fellow entertainers

Book now to see Jimmy in action 150 150 mhamer

Book now to see Jimmy in action

Jimmy Cricket's shows in the first part of 2015

The first venue that famous comedian Jimmy Cricket will be visiting for his 2015 shows around the UK is the Plaza Theatre in Stockport on Sunday (25 January).

With the show scheduled for a 3pm start, there is the chance to have Sunday lunch with all the family, then go along to see him and laugh away the calories! Tickets are priced at £10 (£5 for under 16s).

Jimmy embarks on a tour of Northern Ireland with the You Must Be Joking show next week.

When the veteran entertainer visits the charming Lamproom Theatre in South Yorkshire during February, he will feature in a format that will afford the audience an opportunity to ask him a question, as he brings his Audience with show to the Barnsley region.

Jimmy’s trip to the Victoria Theatre in Halifax on 25 March will be part of a Music Hall show that his good friend, Neil Hurst, is organising.

And he is also looking forward to visiting Bexhill-on-Sea, where the team behind the Bexhill Festival of Music are organising the show he will headline in April.

All the other venues on the list shown above right will also present Jimmy’s Value for a Tenner show.

So if you live in one of the regions Jimmy will be visiting during the first half of 2015, do go along and see him in action.

A Christmas & New Year message from Jimmy 150 150 mhamer

A Christmas & New Year message from Jimmy

Here is a Christmas and New Year message from your favourite entertainer Jimmy Cricket:

Jimmy Cricket's Christmas card features the Only Fools and Horses’ sketch staring regular cast members David Jason and Nicholas Lyndhurst, plus special Comic Relief guest David BeckhamDear all,

I write this from my dressing room at the Charter Theatre in Preston where I am currently appearing in a pantomime production of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. We have had some great audiences in Preston and the show has been great fun to do! (There is still time to come along as the show continues until the 3rd of January).

Another year has gone by and, after spending some time over Christmas with my family, I will start to look forward to what 2015 will bring.

This will be a special year for me as in October I will turn 70! Already there are plans in place on how this milestone will be marked and one of the exciting events will be a special fun run to be arranged at a location within my adopted home town of Rochdale.

There are already several interesting touring commitments lined up for 2015. In the early part of the year I will feature in a comedy show called You Must Be Joking, which has several tour dates around Northern Ireland in late January and early February.

I am also teaming up with the male vocalist Michael George for a couple of theatre dates in May and I make a welcome return during 2015 to the Warner Leisure Hotels circuit for the first time in several years.

Of course, I will also be touring my own stand-up show throughout the year and venues already lined up for 2015 include: Stockport, Preston, Barnsley, East Kilbride, Horsham, Nelson and Soham.

Over the last few weeks I have just finished recording a new comedy music CD called Jimmy Cricket – Light and Shade and this will be available to purchase early in the New Year.

Finally, it only remains for me to wish all readers a very happy and peaceful Christmas and a great start to the New Year!

Jimmy Cricket (17 December 2014)

Comedy show to return? You Must Be Joking! 150 150 mhamer

Comedy show to return? You Must Be Joking!

Jimmy is being reunited with fellow Northern Ireland comedians John Linehan (aka May McFetteridge), William Caulfield and Gene Fitzpatrick to create the You Must be Joking show that will tour Northern Ireland in early 2015

Jimmy Cricket is to be reunited with fellow Northern Ireland comedians John Linehan (aka May McFettridge), William Caulfield and Gene Fitzpatrick to produce the You Must Be Joking tour of the province in early 2015.

The event will see the recreation of a successful show that was part of the 2013 Cookstown Comedy Festival (above).

It featured all four comedians in one unique evening of comedy.

Famous entertainer Jimmy said: “As expected, the show was a complete sellout and it was always the plan to tour it around the province at some point in the future.

“With the tour dates now set, it is time to get those chuckle muscles flexed!”

The You Must Be Joking tour schedule:

Wed 28 January Grand Opera House, Belfast
Thu 29 January – Theatre at the Mill, Newtownabbey
Sat 31 January – Millennium Theatre, Derry (Londonderry)
Sun 1 February – Market Place Theatre, Armagh

Jimmy is also squeezing in an additional date with his own stand-up show, which is scheduled for Friday 30 January at the Ranfurly Arts Centre in Dungannon.

This extra date will see Jimmy visit the county from where he hails, as he was born down the road from Dungannon in the town of Cookstown in County Tyrone.