An Audience with May McFettridge

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I have two brothers and two sisters – my eldest sister, Eileen, had Down syndrome and died when she was 60. I would often hang out with my siblings and cousins. Eamonn Holmes is my wife Brenda’s cousin and we’ve known each other since primary school. I would fix his car then. Whenever he’s over, he’d give me a shout. If I'm looking at people in the audience, and I see a woman of an age sweating, I'll know that the change is starting. I go to them and I say that I know what they are going through - the night sweats, he can't say a word against you or you eat the face off him. I say I know, but once you get the furniture out everything will be all right - you'll be fine." was to be a great year. I embarked on an eight-night tour with my new Our Jimmy Show and then headed to Barbados to start my shows on the cruise ships. I had 25 contracts booked to take me all over the world and right up to panto rehearsals again. I'm still here. God didn't want me and the devil was afraid of me. Something like that, it changes your perception - it was a different ball game." The set and costumes are a feast for the eyes and one of the biggest challenges for the panto dame is fitting in – and out – of the elaborate costumes. "I have eight costume and 10 changes. One of the changes I somehow have to do in just 15 seconds."

There are comedians who can do stand-up online, but I have to see and respond to the faces of my audiences,” he says. She goes to drama club on a Saturday and is a wee drama queen,” he boasts proudly, adding he can't wait to perform in the Grand Opera House's newly restored auditorium, after being invited for a sneak preview. So eventually I got these five or six plates and as I was walking over the tarpaulin that was on the stage to protect it and there was a wee tear in it and I put my toe in it and fell and smashed my head off the six plates, they just disintegrated as my head hit it." Read More Related ArticlesBehind the make-up, John Linehan is also known to be a friendly, funny, generous man. Noted for his charity work and for his real, genuine love for how audiences - particularly kids - react to pantomime. John is very comfortable with basically being part of the furniture at the Grand Opera House. Read More Related Articles

May got out the crystal balls. My palm remained at home because of a lurgy, but Q Radio DJ Gareth Woods bravely stepped up for the psychic craic. May got tuned in and said: “Gareth Woods is definitely destined for big things. I can see him moving to London with a tall, dark, handsome and most importantly rich man and landing a job on a TV show – wait, it’s ITV’s This Morning. He’ll be our new Eamonn Holmes.”This year the main woman is marking an incredible 30 years as the star of the show at the annual Christmas spectacular in the iconic city centre venue, before it shuts its doors for ten months for refurbishments. During this golden age for comedy and variety artists, Jimmy had his own series on ITV and was a regular on variety shows. Look, if I'm able to do it, I'll do it. I'll probably be playing the role til I pop my clogs. Health permitting, there's no way I'd not do it. The Opera House is the place to be." This pantomime has a score that encompasses Abba and other pop standards. Prince Charming (Conor Headley), Buttons (Adam C Booth) and co have a good stab at it, but unfortunately the beautiful Cinderella herself (Kia-Paris Walcott) wasn't vocally on the money and sometimes sounded a bit shrill. But the dancing and overall stage enthusiasm kept things going pretty nicely. I was just so tired and had no appetite. I would have had 10 hours sound sleep, but by 11in the morning I was ready for my bed again, totally exhausted. I came out of my quarantine on the Wednesday and they shut the bars on the Friday,” he laughs.