Tributes have been paid to comedian Jimmy Cricket, who died on Monday at the age of 80 following a short illness. Best known for his wellington boots, battered bowler hat and catchphrases, he has been remembered by family and fellow entertainers as an inspirational figure who brought joy and kindness to those around him throughout his career and right up to his death.

His son, Father Frankie Mulgrew, a Catholic priest at Salford Cathedral, said his father "saw the joy in everything" and remained devoted to injecting silliness into the world until the end. Born James Joseph Mulgrew in Cookstown, County Tyrone, in 1945, Cricket began as a Butlins Redcoat in 1966 before rising through the 1970s and 1980s comedy club scene, winning LWT's Search for a Star and later hosting his own ITV show and a BBC Radio 2 series. Fellow performers Roy Walker and Christopher Biggins also paid tribute, describing him as universally loved and praising his clean, distinctive style of comedy.