The Northern Irish performer died on August 3 at the age of 80 following a short illness<\/p>\n
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Mourners will gather in Greater Manchester on Friday afternoon to pay tribute to the late stand-up comedian Jimmy Cricket.<\/p>\n
Born James Mulgrew, the Northern Irish performer died on 3 August at the age of 80 following a short illness, "surrounded by his family, love, laughter and songs", according to a family statement.<\/p>\n
Cricket, who was famed for his signature bowler hat and catchphrase \u201cand there\u2019s more", became a TV staple in the 1980s, with the comedian appearing on shows such as The Good Old Days and the Royal Variety Performance.<\/p>\n
Fans have been invited by his family to celebrate his life at the funeral requiem mass at Salford Cathedral at 1.30pm.<\/p>\n
Cricket\u2019s youngest son, a former comedian who became a priest, Father Frankie Mulgrew said that the Cookstown-born comic asked for the last rites twice, \u201calmost like he asked for an encore\u201d, before he passed away.<\/p>\n
He described his father as being \u201clike a light\u201d and said that he loved making people laugh.<\/p>\n
In a statement posted on social media, the family said that Cricket, who was a devout Catholic, was their \u201cgreatest champion\u201d and that he \u201cloved us all loudly\u201d.<\/p>\n
It said: \u201cJimmy brought so much laughter and happiness to countless audiences in his career over the years.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether on stage, screen or radio, or if you met him in person as well. But that was nothing to the happiness he gave to his family.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Cricket was married to his wife May for 52 years, with the couple having four children. He was described as being a \u201cvery silly grandad\u201d to his four grandchildren.<\/p>\n
The comedian left school at 16 and spent his summers working as Redcoat camp host at Butlins holiday camps.<\/p>\n
He went on to work the comedy club scene throughout the 1970s and 1980s, going on to win LWT\u2019s Search for a Star talent contest. Cricket then secured his own ITV show, And There\u2019s More, which ran for four seasons.<\/p>\n