Comedian Jimmy Cricket, known for his trademark wellington boots and battered bowler hat, died on Monday at the age of 80 after a short illness. Tributes continue to be paid to the entertainer, who was born James Joseph Mulgrew in Cookstown, County Tyrone in 1945.
His son, Father Frankie Mulgrew, a Catholic priest at Salford Cathedral, said his father "saw the joy in everything, right up until his death." Fr Mulgrew added that his father's purpose was to "inject as much joy and silliness into the world as he could and he was doing it right until the end."
Fellow comedian Roy Walker, who shared stages with Cricket for decades, described him as a "sincere wee fella" who "loved everyone and everyone loved him." Veteran entertainer Christopher Biggins called Cricket "unbelievably fantastic" and a "genius," noting his "unique and simple and absolutely hysterical" comedy.
Cricket began his career as a Redcoat for Butlins in 1966, later working the comedy club scene in the 1970s and 1980s. He went on to win LWT's Search for a Star talent contest and had his own TV show on ITV and a radio series on BBC Radio 2.