Hello everyone.

It has now been over three years since I did my last show with “THE BACHELORS with John Stokes” and you are all probably wondering what I have been doing since then. Or, maybe you couldn’t care less. Ha!

Well at first, I thought about maybe forming some kind of BACHELORS tribute with Dave Pearson and someone else but then I realized it would not be the same without John Stokes who, as most of you know, I worked with for over 25 years.

Then sadly came the passing of CON CLUSKEY. Although we worked in different versions of the BACHELORS, I always admired his voice and what he, Dec and John achieved back in the 60s and 70s.

I have always considered myself lucky to live in Manchester as a lot of my friends own pubs and restaurants here. Therefore, since the end of the pandemic that’s where I have been appearing apart from Care homes, private functions plus my charity work. Here are some of the venues where I have been working on a regular basis.

The Millstone in the Northern Quarter every Wednesday 7 till 10pm. GED FORD 0161 839 0213

The Rozafa Greek Restaurant, Princess Street. The first Sunday of every month 7 till 10pm plus special Christmas show on the 11th of December. Albie 0161 236 6389. The singer is Priscilla Presley.

Giuliano’s Italian restaurant in Handforth 28th of October and also New Year’s Eve from 7.30 onwards. 01625 535245

The Strawberry Duck in Clayton the last Sunday of every month 5 till 8. Andy & Vanessa 07931170307

Cosmos Bingo hall in Stalybridge where I do their Saint Pats, Easter and Christmas shows. Great audience and friendly staff. 0161 338 5277

These are all great venues that you can visit anytime and be sure of a warm welcome.

My act has now evolved into a selection of songs that I have always loved plus a sprinkling of my most requested Bachelors songs like Ramona, I Believe, Diane, Charmaine etc. They hold so many good memories for people that it is my pleasure to see to it that these great songs are still performed and not forgotten.

Apart from singing I am still keeping my hand in at acting. If you remember, I did a tour with my old pal Jimmy Cricket as the straight man in Jimmy’s play “No more Fiffing & Faffing”. Well as a sequel to that Jimmy has written four half hour radio plays under the title “The comeback kids” which can be found by following the links on his website:
https://www.jimmycricket.co.uk/agents-and-promoters/

Dennis Houghton and I would like to take this opportunity, to thank all the people, who were kind enough to give great reviews to our book “Key to yesterday” which is still on sale at Amazon or you can order a signed copy from myself by emailing jonathanyoung47@hotmail.co.uk which is also the email address if anyone would like to book me or, you could ring 0161 681 9444 or 07966 461087

Well that about brings us up to date and as for the future, well I guess it’s a case of “Watch this space”

Christmas 2022

Hi everyone

I’m just having a look back over the last few weeks and I thought some of you might like to know what I have been up to.
I’ll start with my birthday which was on the 21st of November, when I spent the day with my friends and family watching England’s opening world cup game in the Abercrombie. A special thank you to Landlord Mike and his staff for making it a great day. England got of to a great start and we really believed that “Footballs coming home”. However, it was not to be.

On the subject of football, I must say that I had a great night at a sportsman’s dinner at Old Trafford as a guest of Barry, landlord of The Circus Tavern. It was a well-deserved tribute to the last Busby babe Sammy Mcllroy and what really made my night was to my surprise the comedian was my old pal Mick Miller. He stormed them as he is just as funny as ever. Worked with him many times not least a summer season at the North Pier Theatre Blackpool. We had a drink and a chat after the show and the room turned into black and white as soon as we started reminiscing.

Workwise I have been entertaining in Day care centres, Community centres mainly at senior citizens Christmas parties all around Manchester.

I can’t help noticing that all these events are organised by a WOMAN and I can’t praise them enough for the work they do bringing the elderly together not just for Christmas but for social events throughout the year. If you live alone, as most of these people do, these centres are a lifeline and I am more than happy to play a small part.

I still look forward to what I call my residencies namely The Strawberry Duck in Clayton on the last Sunday of every month, The Rozafa Greek Restaurant on the first of every month and of course every Wednesday working for my old pal Landlord Ged Ford at The Millstone in Northern Quarter, Manchester.

A big thank you to everyone who attended my special Christmas cabaret lunch in the Rozafa on the 11th of December. I’m still getting emails saying how much you enjoyed it and I must say that I am most grateful to Clive Allan and my special guest DANNI RAYE for their contribution. I loved the way Danni tailored her act, thus creating a Christmas party atmosphere.

Speaking of the Rozafa I would like to congratulate Peter, Albie and indeed all the staff on winning the England’s family restaurant on the year award. Believe you me, it could not have gone to nicer people.

It is always a pleasure to work with my life long pal JIMMY CRICKET, as his enthusiasm just carries me along. I had the pleasure of compering his 50th year in showbusiness celebration at The Royal Toby Hotel in Castleton where all the members of The Wooden Hut club gathered to present Jimmy with a much-deserved award. Then Jimmy and I got to share the bill when we worked together in the Millbrow Club in Widnes where Karen the owner made us very welcome indeed.

This was followed by his Charity Christmas show at Saint Vincent’s parish Hall in Rochdale where a great reception is always guaranteed. Incidentally a 30-minute segment of this show was recorded in the form of a podcast and can be listened to by following the link to Jimmy’s web site.

https://www.jimmycricket.co.uk/audio-podcasts/

Always good clean fun working with Jimmy and his lovely wife May.

I would just like to say I’m thrilled to be invited back to the COSMOS Bingo Club in Stalybridge to appear at their Christmas party for the second year running. It’s on Thursday the 22nd of December and I’m on stage at 12.45, so eyes down look in.

New Year’s Eve will find me performing in Giuliano’s Italian restaurant in Handforth just like I have been for the last four years. This is a lovely venue that I do about six times a year.

That will bring me into 2023, a year that I hope when the world will become a better, safer place for us all.

Have a nice Christmas everyone and a Happy New Year.

PS if you are looking for a great present for someone, may I suggest, my book “KEY TO YESTERDAY“ from AMAZON - or a signed copy direct from me

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