Northern Irish comedian Jimmy Cricket has died at 80 following a short illness, with his family remembering a performer who carried his instinct for laughter from the stage into his final days.
The comic died in hospital on Monday morning, August 3, surrounded by his family. In a statement, they said he had spent his last few days with “love, laughter and songs.”
How Jimmy Cricket’s family remembered him
Cricket’s family said he brought happiness to countless people through his work on stage, television and radio, as well as to those who met him away from the spotlight.
But they stressed that his public career was only one part of his life. He was a devoted husband to May for 52 years, a father of four and what they affectionately described as a “very silly grandad indeed” to his four grandchildren.
“He was our greatest champion and loved us all loudly,” the family said. “He also just loved people and he absolutely loved being a stand up comedian. What a life he lived.”
They added that he continued making jokes with National Health Service staff and relatives until the end. His “courage, dignity and positivity through all he endured was inspirational,” they said.
Calling him “a force for joy,” the family concluded that “the world is a far less sillier place today.”
The comic persona audiences remembered
Cricket rose to prominence during the 1980s and became instantly recognisable for wearing wellington boots marked “L” and “R” on the wrong feet. His best-known catchphrase, “And there’s more,” became central to his act.
That deliberately cheerful stage persona connected with audiences across several generations, but his family’s tribute suggests it was not simply a performance. The same playfulness remained present in hospital, even as he faced his final illness.
His relatives said they had considered ending their statement with “There’s no more,” a reversal of the line associated with him throughout his career. Instead, they chose a conclusion that reflected his religious faith.
Cricket was a Papal Knight of the Catholic Church and believed death was not the end. His family said he was looking forward to eternity, so they closed with the words that had followed him for decades: “And there’s more.”
