Tributes paid as comedian columnist Jimmy Cricket dies aged 80 after short illness
"Forever our clown, he was cracking jokes to the wonderful NHS staff and to us all right until the end.”
The family of comedian Jimmy Cricket have confirmed that the TV icon has died after a short illness, aged 80, on Monday August 3, 2026.
Jimmy Cricket, a huge friend of and also long-time columnist at the Lancashire Post, enjoyed a successful television and radio career, starring in his own ITV and BBC series, appearing in Royal Variety Shows, The Good Old Days, The Krankies Klub, and even featuring on This Is Your Life in 1987.
He also made memorable appearances on Bullseye and in the 2007 Comic Relief video for I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) alongside Peter Kay and Matt Lucas.
Originally from Cookstown, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, James Mulgrew, better known by his comedy persona Jimmy Cricket, lived in Lancashire for many years and was a familiar face on the local entertainment circuit.
A statement posted on the Jimmy Cricket Facebook page earlier today read: "Our beloved Jimmy passed away this morning after a short illness. He spent his last few days surrounded by his family, love, laughter and songs.
"Jimmy brought so much laughter and happiness to countless audiences throughout his career. Whether on stage, screen or radio, or if you met him in person. But that was nothing compared with the happiness he gave to his family.
"A devoted husband to May for fifty two years. A wonderful dad to his four children and a very silly grandad indeed to his four grandchildren. He was our greatest champion and loved us all loudly. He also just loved people and he absolutely loved being a stand up comedian. What a life he lived.
"Forever our clown, he was cracking jokes to the wonderful NHS staff and to us all right until the end. His courage, dignity and positivity through all he endured were inspirational. A force for joy, we are all just very sad that the world is a far less silly place today.
"We were going to end by using his famous catchphrase and say, 'There's no more'. But Jimmy was a man of great faith and a Papal Knight of the Catholic Church. He believed that death is not the end and was looking forward to eternity, so really... And there's more."