Comedian Jimmy Cricket, who topped the bill at a sell-out charity gala at the Lowry last Christmas, has died at the age of 80.
The Northern Irish entertainer, best known for his catchphrase “and there’s more”, died on Monday after a short illness.
In a statement, his family said he had been “a force for joy” throughout a career spanning five decades in showbusiness.
Cricket, whose real name was James Mulgrew, was born in County Tyrone but built deep ties with Salford over the course of his career.
For almost 20 years he toured parish halls across the Catholic Diocese of Salford, raising funds for Francis House Children’s Hospice in Manchester.
He also headlined a gala at the Lowry Theatre on Salford Quays in aid of the hospice, sharing the bill with fellow comedians Tim Vine and Roy Walker in front of a packed house.
Francis House Children’s Hospice provides a home from home where families receive professional care, support and friendship.
Cricket described the charity show to celebrate his 80th birthday as an “absolute joy”.
“[W]hat an absolute joy it was last Saturday night at the Quays Theatre in the Lowry, Salford with so many friends and family members to help me celebrate turning ‘80 Years Young’,” he added.
“You could sense and feel the love from the audience.
“My huge thanks to the very funny lineup of fellow comics who shared the stage with me, and who brought so much laughter to the show.
Cricket has previously been interviewed by fellow comedian Richard Herring at the Lowry.
He also performed gigs at St Sebastian’s Community Centre, St Peter’s & St Paul’s Parish Centre and performed in aid of the Salford Lourdes Children’s and Families group.
The Salford connection ran deeper still. In 2013 his son Frankie was ordained a Catholic priest at Salford Cathedral and went on to become the parish priest at St James and All Souls Parish in Salford. Cricket himself was made a Papal Knight by the Bishop of the Diocese of Salford.
Fr Frankie Mulgrew, who worked as a comedian himself before joining the priesthood, paid tribute to his father this week. He said his father had asked for the last rites twice, “almost like he asked for an encore”.
Fellow comedians including Ted Robbins and Tim Vine also paid tribute, praising Cricket’s warmth and his decades of clean, family-friendly comedy.
Cricket is survived by his wife May, their four children and four grandchildren.
