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Comedian 'Cricket's' Joyful Legacy Lives On
4 Aug
Summary
- He aimed to spread joy and silliness until his final moments.
- His career began as a Redcoat at Butlins in 1966.
- He won a talent contest and earned his own TV and radio shows.
James Joseph Mulgrew, affectionately known as 'Cricket,' passed away recently, remembered for his lifelong mission to "inject as much joy and silliness into the world as he could." Born in Cookstown, County Tyrone, in 1945, Mulgrew began his career as a Redcoat for Butlins in 1966.
He honed his comedic talents in the 1970s and 1980s, achieving national recognition by winning LWT's Search for a Star. This success led to his own television show on ITV and a radio series on BBC Radio 2. Despite spending his later years in Greater Manchester, his son, Fr Mulgrew, noted his father's enduring "love" for Northern Ireland.
Comedian Roy Walker, who knew Cricket from their shared beginnings in Northern Ireland, described him as a "sincere wee fella" who "loved everyone and everyone loved him." Walker recalled their early days, when they would sometimes need "Petrol money" for gigs. He highlighted Cricket's talent for keeping his act clean, a valuable trait in the club scene of their time, and his perpetual chase for "the sound of laughter."
