Comedian Jimmy Cricket dies aged 80 as tributes pour in

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. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say 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 famou

Comedian Jimmy Cricket dies aged 80 following short illness

The Northern Irish stand-up was a familiar face on television in the 1980s.

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