Comedian Jimmy Cricket’s son has joked it “isn’t the first time I’ve seen him die” as he led his funeral service.
The joke came as his funeral requiem mass began at Salford Cathedral on Friday, following the Northern Irish comic, born James Mulgrew’s death on August 3 at the age of 80 following his battle with a short illness.
The ceremony was attended by comedy veterans such as Syd Little, Tommy Cannon and Roy Walker and led by Cricket’s youngest son Father Frankie Mulgrew, who once worked as his road manager but is now a Catholic priest.
During the service Father Frankie said: “I just want to say this, this isn’t the first time I’ve seen him die, and rise again, comedy metaphor, it’s a comedy metaphor.
Roy Walker arrives for the funeral of stand-up comedian Jimmy Cricket (Peter Byrne/PA)
“Friends, about 20 years ago, my dad said, ‘I will sacrifice grandchildren, you go into the priesthood’.”
Cookstown born Cricket, who was known for his signature bowler hat and catchphrase “And there’s more”, became a TV staple in the 80s, appearing in programmes such as The Good Old Days as well as the Royal Variety Performance.
Tommy Cannon arrives for the funeral of stand-up comedian Jimmy Cricket (Peter Byrne/PA)
The star 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 before getting 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.