Comedian Jimmy Cricket dies aged 80 as tributes pour in

Jimmy Cricket, the beloved Northern Irish comedian whose real name was James Mulgrew, has died at the age of 80.

His family confirmed the news today, revealing that he passed away this morning after a brief illness.

According to a statement shared by his relatives on Facebook, the entertainer spent his final days with his loved ones by his side.

"Our beloved Jimmy has passed away this morning after a short illness. He spent his last few days surrounded by his family, love, laughter and songs," the family wrote.

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Mr Mulgrew, who became one of Britain's best-known variety performers across several decades, was celebrated for bringing joy to audiences through television, radio, live performance and personal encounters alike.

His family described him as a man who cherished those closest to him above all else.

"A devoted husband to May for fifty-two years," they said, adding that he was "a wonderful dad to his four children and very silly grandad indeed to his four grandchildren."

The tribute painted a picture of a man whose greatest happiness came not from his professional achievements but from his role within the family.

"He was our greatest champion and loved us all loudly," his relatives wrote.

Beyond his devotion to his family, Mr Mulgrew's passion for entertaining never wavered.

"He also just loved people, and he absolutely loved being a stand-up comedian. What a life he lived," the statement continued.

The family revealed that Mr Mulgrew maintained his sense of humour right to the very end.

"Forever our clown, he was cracking jokes to the wonderful NHS staff and to us all, right until the end," they said, praising his "courage, dignity and positivity" as "inspirational."

In closing their tribute, his relatives acknowledged his deep religious convictions.

Mr Mulgrew held the honour of being a Papal Knight of the Catholic Church, and his faith shaped how he viewed his own passing.

Rather than using his famous catchphrase to say farewell, the family chose to reframe it with hope.

"We were going to end by using his famous catchphrase and say, 'There's no More'. But Jimmy was a man of great faith... He believed that death is not the end and was looking forward to eternity, so really...And there's more."

Mr Mulgrew first made his name during the 1970s, initially cutting his teeth as a Bluecoat at Pontins holiday camps in Southport and Morecambe.

His television breakthrough came with the BBC series And There's More, which took its title from his signature catchphrase.

He fronted four series of the programme between 1985 and 1988, cementing his status as a household name.

During the 1990s, he expanded into radio broadcasting, presenting Jimmy's Cricket Team on BBC Radio 2.

Across these platforms, he built a reputation as one of the most recognisable variety entertainers of his generation, known for his distinctively gentle Irish humour and warm stage presence that endeared him to audiences throughout the United Kingdom.

Fellow comedian Freddie "Parrot Face" Davies offered a moving personal tribute to his late friend.

"Jimmy Cricket (James Mulgrew) was a dear friend, and we were in contact many times over the years," he said, noting that both men had begun their careers as holiday camp entertainers.

Mr Davies recalled directing a production of Snow White at the Charter Theatre in Preston during Christmas 2014, where Mr Mulgrew starred.

"He was a delight to work with and his gentle comedy was a relaxing change.

One always felt comfortable in his company," Mr Davies said, adding that Mr Mulgrew's wife May was ever-present and lovingly known as "Mrs. Cricket."

Their final encounter came at a Ken Dodd memorial lunch in Liverpool last December.

"He was a true funny Bones comic, a throw back to Variety days. I will miss you Jim, god bless you and RIP," Davies said.

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