Mourners will gather in Greater Manchester on Friday afternoon to pay tribute to the late stand-up comedian Jimmy Cricket.
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.
Cricket, who was famed for his signature bowler hat and catchphrase “and there’s 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.
Fans have been invited by his family to celebrate his life at the funeral requiem mass at Salford Cathedral at 1.30pm.
Cricket’s youngest son, a former comedian who became a priest, Father Frankie Mulgrew said that the Cookstown-born comic asked for the last rites twice, “almost like he asked for an encore”, before he passed away.
He described his father as being “like a light” and said that he loved making people laugh.
In a statement posted on social media, the family said that Cricket, who was a devout Catholic, was their “greatest champion” and that he “loved us all loudly”.
It said: “Jimmy brought so much laughter and happiness to countless audiences in his career over the years.
“Whether 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.”
Cricket was married to his wife May for 52 years, with the couple having four children. He was described as being a “very silly grandad” to his four grandchildren.
The comedian left school at 16 and spent his summers working as Redcoat camp host at Butlins holiday camps.
He went on to work the comedy club scene throughout the 1970s and 1980s, going on to win LWT’s Search for a Star talent contest. Cricket then secured his own ITV show, And There’s More, which ran for four seasons.
He later fronted his own programme on BBC Radio 2 before appearing on the Royal Variety Show in the 80s and performing in a number of pantomimes.
