SOME things are just certs in life - and if you shell out your hard-earned to buy a ticket to watch an old pro like Jimmy Cricket you are guaranteed a belting night.

Put it into simple terms the Irishman is just a funny, funny man.

He is funny way beyond his odd hat and half-mast trousers - but Cricket is a comic of the past.

He is not on TV anymore and because of that his popularity has waned while comics who can’t hold a candle to him pack out auditoriums.

Maybe it is a sign of the times.

A dismal crowd numbering the mid-30s turned out at Darwen Library Theatre last night to watch the show - the ones that chose not to go and watch Cricket missed a treat.

Cricket is a top pro. On stage for 90 minutes, he was genuinely laughout loud.

Everyone remembers Cricket, everyone knows that trademark outfit and wellies marked ‘L’ and ‘R’, but worn on the wrong feet. Everyone knows about his catchphrase ‘Come here, there’s more’.

But unless people go out and watch him live they won’t realise there is more.

As well as jokes he can juggle and create a memorable impersonation of Mick Jagger while juggling.

Cricket is quite simply hilarious. Gags that seem to be straight out of a cracker take a twist to leave the audience booming with tears of laughter rolling down cheeks.

With Darwen’s own Don Banks acting as a fine warm-up the show was outstanding.

Just a shame that so many stayed away.

“Thank-you for coming,” smiled Cricket. “But at least you all shared the same taxi”.

It should not have been that way.

Click on the link below for more information on the Blackburn with Darwen Comedy Festival.