Jimmy Cricket’s funeral takes place with attendees including TV legends

The legendary comedian passed away this month

Some big TV stars joined together in Greater Manchester to pay tribute to stand-up comedian Jimmy Cricket, who died aged 80 this month.

Mourners at Salford Cathedral responded to his family's suggestion to wear bow ties in a nod to his stage costume, which also included a crushed bowler hat. The star's famous hat and trademark wellies were placed at the entrance to the cathedral beside the book of condolence, the Mirror reports.

Syd Little - one half of double act Little and Large - attended in a black suit and matching bow-tie alongside wife Sheree. Former I'm A Celeb star Tommy Cannon, 88, wore a green tie and black suit at the cathedral.

Former Catchphrase host Roy Walker, 86, himself a stand-up who won ITV talent show New Faces and appeared on The Comedians alongside many acts of the era, wore a blue shirt and black tie.

Mourners also included his children with wife May, Crackerjack presenter Stu Francis, 78, comedians Freddie "Parrot Face" Davies, 89, and John Linehan, 74, and Early Doors actor John Henshaw, 75.

The mass was led by Jimmy's son, Father Frankie Mulgrew, who is a Catholic Priest at Salford Cathedral. He joked: "For 10 years I was dad's road manager so I have seen him die before and rise again."

Jimmy was awarded the Roman Catholic Church's highest honour in 2015, being made a papal knight by Pope Francis for his charity work. The letters KSG - Knight of the Order of St Gregory the Great - appeared after his name on the order of service at the funeral.

His son added at the funeral: "When I entered seminary he said he was willing to sacrifice having grandchildren so it's worked pretty well for him as he got a Papal Knighthood and a cheap funeral."

He explained that the funeral would be followed by an "open mic" wake where attendees would be invited to sell jokes and sing.

Cricket, whose real name was James Joseph Mulgrew, was a huge star in the 1980s thanks to shows including The Good Old Days and Crackerjack! after finishing runner-up in TV talent show Search For A Star.

His son Frankie said he was a performer until his dying day, explaining: "He was in hospital and called us close to him and we wondered what he would say and he started singing Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life.

The family announced that he has died on 3 August. A statement read: "Our beloved Jimmy passed away this morning after a short illness. He spent his last few days surrounded by his family, love, laughter and songs.

"Jimmy brought so much laughter and happiness to countless audiences in his career over the years. Whether on stage, screen or radio, or if you met him in person as well. But that was nothing to the happiness he gave to his family. A devoted husband to May for fifty two years.

“A wonderful dad to his four children and very silly grandad indeed to his four grandchildren. He was our greatest champion and loved us all loudly. He also just loved people and he absolutely loved being a stand up comedian. What a life he lived.

“Forever our clown, he was cracking jokes to the wonderful NHS staff and to us all, right until the end. His courage, dignity and positivity through all he endured was inspirational.

"A force for joy, we are just all very sad that the world is a far less sillier place today. We were going to end by using his famous catchphrase and say, ‘There’s no More’."

The statement signed off with the star's catchphrase, adding: “But Jimmy was a man of great faith and a Papal Knight of the Catholic Church. He believed that death is not the end and was looking forward to eternity, so really…And there’s more."