Comedian Jimmy Cricket has died aged 80 after a short illness, his family said.

In a statement posted to social media they said Cricket spent his last few days surrounded by his family, love, laughter and songs.

“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,” they added.

The comedian, from Northern Ireland, became a household name in the 1970s.

James Joseph Mulgrew was born in Cookstown, County Tyrone in 1945, Cricket left school at 16 and started the summer season of 1966 as a Redcoat for Butlins.

He worked the comedy club scene in the 1970s and 1980s, going on to win LWT’s Search for a Star talent contest and eventually getting his own TV show on ITV and a radio series on BBC Radio 2.

Cricket’s family said he had been a “force for joy” and the world was a “far less sillier place today”.

“We were going to end by using his famous catchphrase and say: ‘There’s no More’.

“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.”

Cricket was known for his catchphrases and an onstage outfit comprised of a battered bowler hat, tails, rolled up trousers and wellington boots with R and L on the front.

Northern Ireland comedian John Linehan, known for his pantomime dame character May McFettridge, said Cricket was “so nice and he was so humble”.

“He was so funny… he was just a star, he was just so modest, just so simple in what he did and everybody loved him,” he told BBC News NI.

Comedian Tim Vine has also paid tribute on X, describing him as a “lovely, inspiring, funny man”.

“I have a great memory being at his home and he said: ‘Do you want to hear my new song?’ I said: ‘Of course’.

“He then sang it to me live while dancing about in front of me. I thought: ‘I hope I’m like this when I’m older.'”

Ted Robbins said he was one of the last great comics with “a unique style, never blue just funny”.

“I know he and all his family have a great Christian faith so maybe The Angels will be saying ‘Come here Jimmy – there’s more’!”

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 Extra’s The Comedy Club in March 2024, Cricket spoke about his journey into comedy.

He said his family moved to Belfast when he was two years old.

“There was still trams then, would you believe, I took the tram to school.”

He said that he was always a comedian, even back then.

Variety shows in Belfast inspired him to take it up as a career.

“You could pay a shilling… and sit in the gallery and look down on these amazing performers and that’s where I caught the bug.”

Cricket then worked in holiday parks where he perfected his trade.