A performer who brought warmth and laughter to generations of British television viewers has passed away. James Joseph Mulgrew, known professionally as Jimmy Cricket, died Aug. 3, 2026, following a short illness. The Northern Irish entertainer was 80 years old.
Mulgrew’s family shared the news through social media, revealing that he passed away in the morning with his closest loved ones at his bedside. He leaves behind May, his spouse of 52 years, along with four children and four grandchildren.
The family’s announcement characterized him as their household’s “greatest champion” and noted his profound love for people. Though they might have invoked his famous line “there’s no more,” they wrote that his devout Catholic faith suggested otherwise, closing instead with: “And there’s more.”
A Career Built on Wholesome Humor and Iconic Costume
Cricket became one of Britain’s most instantly recognizable variety performers through a distinctive combination of gentle comedy, theatrical dress, and self-deprecating jokes about his Irish heritage. His signature outfit featured shortened trousers, an evening tailcoat paired with a hat, and rubber wellington boots labeled “R” and “L” — intentionally worn on the incorrect feet. The visual joke never grew stale, making him immediately identifiable even in brief television appearances.
Born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, in 1945, Cricket developed his passion for entertainment early. During a March 2024 radio interview, he described how his family moved to Belfast when he was two years old. “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.
From Holiday Camps to National Fame
The path to stardom proved circuitous. Cricket left school at 16 and spent two years employed at a betting shop before discovering his true vocation. At age 21, he secured work as a Redcoat — an entertainment and hosting position — at the Butlins holiday camp in Mosney. He later worked at Butlins in Clacton, England, followed by stints at Pontins holiday camps in Southport and Morecambe, developing his act before audiences of vacationers night after night.
Cricket spent the 1970s and early 1980s performing on the comedy club circuit before his television breakthrough arrived in 1980, when he won the London Weekend Television talent competition “Search for a Star.” The victory led to guest spots on shows including the BBC children’s variety program “Crackerjack!” and the period musical comedy “The Good Old Days.” He participated in multiple Royal Variety performances and was featured in a 1987 episode of “This Is Your Life.”
In 1985, Cricket received his own ITV sketch comedy program, “And There’s More,” which aired for four seasons through 1988. The series cemented his two signature catchphrases — “Ladies and gentlemen, come here” and the show’s title phrase — in British comedy culture. He additionally hosted the BBC Radio 2 comedy program “Jimmy’s Cricket Team,” written by Eddie Braben and starring Bill Pertwee, Noreen Kershaw, and Peter Goodwright.
Remembering a Comedy Legend
Tributes arrived swiftly from fellow performers. Northern Irish comedian John Linehan, recognized for playing dame character May McFettridge in pantomime performances, told BBC News NI that Cricket was “so funny” and “just a star,” emphasizing his humility and broad appeal.
Comedian Tim Vine remembered a visit to Cricket’s residence during which the veteran performer spontaneously sang him a newly written song while dancing throughout the room. Vine expressed hope that he would carry similar energy into his own later years. Actor and comedian Ted Robbins characterized Cricket as “one of the last great comics with a unique style who was never blue, just funny,” adding his expectation that angels would greet Cricket with the entertainer’s own catchphrase.
The Lyndene Hotel in Blackpool, where Cricket performed as resident comedian for more than 10 years, mourned him as a “true Lyndene legend” whose absence would be profoundly felt by visitors and employees.
Cricket’s son Father Frankie Mulgrew — himself a former comedian turned priest — disclosed that his father requested the last rites twice during his final hours, describing it as “almost like he asked for an encore.” The gesture seemed perfectly consistent with a man who never stopped performing or brightening any room he entered. Cricket’s final television appearance came in the 2025 holiday special “New Year’s Eve with Mike, Noel and Friends.”
Though Cricket had informed fans through his website that he was temporarily stepping away from performances due to health concerns, he had expressed plans to resume with autumn 2026 shows. Those engagements will never happen — but the memories remain, along with the wrongly placed boots, the battered bowler hat, and decades devoted entirely to bringing joy through laughter.
