WHEN football superstar Luis Suarez bit another opponent during the World Cup, he had no idea what mayhem he’d let loose a new Jimmy Cricket record for a start!
The loveable Irish joker loves his footie almost as much as his humour, and when he saw the Uruguayan sink his infamous fangs into an Italian defender, it lit a spark.
Now, he has a record out all about the man who’s since been sold for megabucks by Liverpool, to Barcelona.
“I’m always looking for ideas for novelty songs, to be honest,” admits Jimmy, “and this particular one came about because I’m more of an armchair football fan these days.
“It’s funny, because I like good football, and Barcelona are that kind of team!
“Suarez is a brilliant, wonderful player and in the song, I’m sitting in a bar in Uruguay, and he mistakes me for a full-back he once punched on the nose.”
New single aside, the man who brought us such household phrases as “Come closer!” and “There’s more!” has been delighting a very special audience.
He began his showbiz career as an entertainer at the likes of Butlin’s, where he was a Redcoat, and Pontins. Now, he has them roaring with laughter in nursing homes.
“It’s very emotional, doing those kinds of gigs,” he admits. “Being a gentle sort of comedian, with Letter From Me Mammy and that kind of thing, they like that.
“I used to do bingo clubs, opening all the Meccas, and I enjoyed that, too, a more mature lady audience, you might say.
“You get a tear in the eye sometimes.
“I’m a very emotional man, and there’s a wee song I do called I’m Dreaming Of A Far-Off Land, about an immigrant man like myself, who goes round the world.
“One night, in a New York bar, he comes face to face with a schoolfriend who tells him his father’s not well.
“The songs leads up to him phoning his dad, to make up after having a barney, and it’s very emotional.
“To lighten up the mood after that, I tell a joke about doing that song in Liverpool, where a man was sobbing his heart out. I said: ‘Sir, are you Irish?’ And he said: ‘No, I’m a singer!’
“That gets a laugh and brings them back to my normal mayhem!”
At least he doesn’t get too many hecklers in the nursing homes Jimmy admits it can be very different elsewhere!
“In Liverpool, the hecklers can be funnier than you!” he laughs.
“I did a gig there where I said there was a lot of crime about. One guy shouted out: ‘Yeah, how much are you getting paid?’
“I think that’s an Irish thing, we came over after the Famine and brought that sharp humour with us.
“We also love the country music, so it’s all about wearing your heart on your sleeve, same as the Scots.”
Whatever the reason, whether you’re Uruguayan or Scouse or something in between, we still love Jimmy Cricket.
Find out more about the wonderful Jimmy’s career, his DVD, the single, concert dates and everything else at www.jimmycricket.co.uk
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