Jimmy Cricket, the Northern Irish comedian beloved by British audiences for his bumbling, boots-and-bowler-hat stage persona, died Monday, Aug. 3, following a short illness. He was 80. His family announced the news on social media, saying he passed away in the morning surrounded by those closest to him.
Born James Joseph Mulgrew in Cookstown, County Tyrone, in 1945, Cricket grew up to become one of Britain’s most recognizable variety comedians, earning his fame through a mix of wholesome humor, theatrical costume, and an endearing knack for poking fun at his own Irish roots. He is survived by his wife, May, to whom he was married for 52 years, their four children, and four grandchildren.
His family’s statement described him as the household’s “greatest champion” and said he had loved people above all else. His family said that while they had considered saying “there’s no more,” Cricket’s deep Catholic faith pointed elsewhere, and so they concluded: “And there’s more.”
From Betting Shop to the Butlins Stage
Cricket’s road to stardom was anything but direct. After leaving school at 16, he spent two years working in a betting shop before finding his calling. At 21, he landed a job as a Redcoat — a hosting and entertainment role — at the Butlins holiday camp in Mosney. He subsequently worked at Butlins in Clacton, England, and then at Pontins holiday camps in Southport and Morecambe, honing his craft night after night in front of holiday crowds.
Those early years instilled in him a love for performance that never faded. In a March 2024 radio interview, he recalled how his family relocated to Belfast when he was two years old, and how watching variety acts from the cheap seats of local theaters ignited everything. “You could pay a shilling and sit in the gallery and look down on these amazing performers and that’s where I caught the bug,” he said.
The ITV Years and “And There’s More”
Cricket worked the comedy club circuit through the 1970s and into the 1980s before his television break arrived. He won the London Weekend Television talent competition “Search for a Star” in 1980, which opened doors to guest appearances on programs including the BBC children’s variety show “Crackerjack!” and the period musical comedy “The Good Old Days.” He also appeared in several Royal Variety performances and was the subject of a 1987 episode of “This Is Your Life.”
By 1985, Cricket had his own ITV sketch comedy series, “And There’s More,” which ran for four seasons through 1988. The show cemented his two most famous catchphrases — “Ladies and gentlemen, come here” and the title line itself — in the British comedic lexicon. He also fronted the BBC Radio 2 comedy series “Jimmy’s Cricket Team,” written by comedian Eddie Braben and featuring performers Peter Goodwright, Bill Pertwee, and Noreen Kershaw.
His stage look was as distinctive as his delivery: cut-off trousers, an evening tailcoat and hat, and wellington boots with the letters “R” and “L” on the front — placed, deliberately, on the wrong feet. It was a visual gag that audiences never tired of, and one that made him instantly recognizable even to viewers who caught only a glimpse of him on screen.
Tributes Pour In for a Gentle Giant of Comedy
Fellow comedians were quick to pay their respects. Northern Irish comedian John Linehan, widely known for his pantomage dame character May McFettridge, told BBC News NI that Cricket was “so funny” and “just a star,” praising his modesty and universal appeal.
Comedian Tim Vine paid tribute on social media, recalling a visit to Cricket’s home during which the older comic spontaneously sang him a new song while dancing around the room. Vine said the memory made him hope he would carry that same spirit into old age. Actor and comedian Ted Robbins described Cricket as “one of the last great comics with a unique style who was never blue, just funny,” and added that he expected the angels to be greeting Cricket with his own catchphrase.
Staff at the Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool, where Cricket served as a resident comedian for more than 10 years, also shared their grief, calling him a “true Lyndene legend” whose absence would be felt deeply by guests and staff alike.
In a detail shared by The Telegraph, Cricket’s son Father Frankie Mulgrew — a former comedian who later became a priest — revealed that his father had requested the last rites twice in his final hours, describing the moment as “almost like he asked for an encore.” It was, by all accounts, entirely in character for a man who never stopped performing or making the room brighter. His last television appearance was the 2025 holiday special “New Year’s Eve with Mike, Noel and Friends.”
Cricket had posted on his website that he was taking a brief break from performing for health reasons, but had told fans he intended to return for a string of autumn 2026 shows. Those plans now belong to memory — alongside the boots on the wrong feet, the battered bowler hat, and a career built entirely on the joy of making people laugh.