Jimmy Cricket honoured with papal knighthood

Jimmy Cricket

The Pope has made Jimmy Cricket a papal knight, the Roman Catholic Church's highest honour.

The Rochdale-based comedian has been given the honour for his services to charity.

Mr Cricket, whose real name is James Joseph Mulgrew, said the honour had come "right out of the blue" and he is "thrilled" to receive it.

Mr Cricket explained: "The parish priest arrived and took out this certificate - it was a papal knighthood and it was in Latin.

"I thought: 'He's got the wrong fella here, is he sure it's not the neighbour?'

"I do what I love. If I can raise money by entertaining people, sure it's not hard work.

"To get an honour for doing something that you love is quite a blessing."