In conversation with Ricky Tomlinson as he returns to the stage in musical comedy Irish Annie’s

The brand-new version of the show written by Asa Murphy will be directed by Stephen Fletcher.

Actor and comedian, Ricky Tomlinson returns to the stage in Spring to tour in a popular musical comedy that celebrates the best of Irish culture.

It has also been announced that Stephen Fletcher will direct the new version of Irish Annie’s, which has brand-new songs and scenes written by Asa Murphy.

The Irish Annie’s tourwill commence close to the St Patricks Day celebrations at the William Aston Hall in Wrexham on Monday 11^th March and will visit a further 25 venues across England, Scotland, Wales, the show will also premiere in Ireland, visiting 5 venues across the country.

The UK and Ireland tour will come to an end with a special homecoming night at Liverpool Olympia on Saturday 4 May which will include some special guests. Tickets for all venues are on sale and selling fast!

Irish Annie’s is a celebration of Irish culture, from the music to the comedy, featuring a live 5-piece band The Shenanigans. 

Meet landlady Annie and her regular madcap customers for a fun night out of comedy, music and mayhem, featuring original tracks written for the show by Asa Murphy, along with your all-time favourite Irish tunes including Galway Shawl, Tell Me Ma, Dirty Old Town, Whiskey In The Jar, Danny Boy and many more.  The evening promises to have the audience laughing, singing, and dancing the night away. 

Ricky Tomlinson will perform as himself as a celebrity guest in the pub. Ricky is a much-loved actor and comedian living all his life in Liverpool, he is best known for his roles as Bobby Grant in Brookside, DCI Charlie Wise in Cracker and Jim Royle in The Royle Family, he also played the title character in the film Mike Bassett: England Manager.

He is a very keen musician playing both the banjo and harmonica.

Ricky Tomlinson said:

“This show is a delight to be part of, with a wonderful cast of characters and beautiful original and classic Irish music. Come and enjoy the show and sing-along with the song sheets provided. I guarantee you will have a ball.”

Here Ricky talks about Irish Annie’s, why to some people he will always be Jim Royle – and why, at 84, he’s loving life and as busy as ever:

How would you describe Irish Annie’s?

It’s infectious. It’s for anyone who likes a laugh, to feel good inside, to be able to participate. It’s a feelgood thing.

And what I love about it, and this is amazing, it doesn’t matter where we’ve played, the finale is like a Glastonbury for pensioners! They’re up dancing, waving their handbags, waving their hats. It’s unbelievable.

What is your role in the show?

I’m a customer in the bar. My role is to have a little laugh on the stage, gee people along when they start to sing, and if I have a tambourine or an instrument, I join in. I’m basically Ricky Tommo really, or Jim Royle, or whoever you want.

I’m used to entertaining in pubs.

It depends where you are, but sometimes if there’s someone in the audience you can have a little fun with, then we do that too. We have a bit of license to have a laugh with the audience.

You mentioned playing the tambourine, but you can also play banjo and harmonica. Tell us more about your love of music, and the music in the show.

The music in Irish Annie’s is great – Asa Murphy, what a singer! And he absolutely loves what he does.

I love Irish music. I recorded an Irish song called Are You Looking at Me? (by Shane Macgowan’s backing band The Popes) and it got into the top 30 so I was made up with that.

The video had Mickey Starke (Sinbad in Brookside) and Noddy Holder in it – we had to sign a contract with Noddy you know. He wanted 2/6, a bacon sandwich and a week in my caravan. I never fulfilled the contract so I’m waiting for the solicitor’s letter!

Irish Annie’s is ultimately a celebration of Irish culture. Do you have any Irish heritage yourself?

Sue Johnston and I have just done a programme where they take your DNA and can tell you who your antecedents were. I haven’t had mine yet although Sue’s had hers. I’m waiting to see if I’ve got any Irish in there.

You’ve played some much-loved characters over the years. If people stop you in the street, who do they want to talk about?

I was at Anfield recently, and people were coming up and saying: “Can my lad have a photograph with you Jim?”

Older people tend to call me Bobby, and ask “how’s Sheila?” This happens everywhere.

I think it’s lovely. It doesn’t matter where you go. And if they’re young, somewhere in the conversation they’ll get a ‘my arse’ in!

Although I was at a charity event in Liverpool once, and I was signing photos for people when this woman in a fur stole came up. I asked if she wanted a picture signed and she said: “could you put on it, ‘my bottom’?”!

Is it fair to say Brookside was an important moment in your career?

Yes. I’d only done one other job at that point. And how I got the part is I did this one play – I’d actually bluffed my way into a Play for Today, directed by Roland Joffé, called United Kingdom. It was shown on television while Andy Lynch and Jimmy McGovern were writing storylines for Brookside.

Andy Lynch saw me on the screen and phoned Phil Redmond and said: “We’ve just found Bobby Grant.”

You also speak with a lot of fondness about your time in The Royle Family.

Now and again, I get invited to do a little talk, and I’ll tell people about The Royle Family, and about us corpsing. I remember when Craig Cash, who played Dave, took 14 takes to say one word because we were deliberately making him laugh, me and Ralf Little.

In the end, Caroline (Aherne) made him go and stand in the naughty corner. Because he couldn’t control himself.

Recently we did a little documentary, just me, Lurkeo (Ralf Little), Sue Johnston and Craig Cash, where we sat and talked about Caroline and Nana (Liz Smith) and Twiggy (Geoffrey Hughes) and Joe (Peter Martin). It was really nice, telling those stories.

Nana was my favourite, I loved her. She was amazing. Even on her day off, she’d come on the set, always at lunchtime. I used to say to her – ‘you’re a bloody disgrace you! What do you mean you just happened to be passing? Just as we’re having our lunch?!’

And she’d say: “I AM just passing!”

When she retired, she moved to Worthing, and Ralf Little used to go to visit her and take her a bouquet of flowers or a basket of fruit or a bundle of ladies’ magazines.

You’re 85 this year, but it seems you don’t have any intention of slowing down. What else are you working on as well as Irish Annie’s?

I’m a workaholic kid! I know I should be putting my feet up, but I love working and I love getting up and knowing what I’ve got to do.

Every time you go to work you meet different people, hear different stories and learn different things. I have the time of my life and I’ve met some wonderful people.

I’ve been doing a TV series with Sue Johnston called Ricky and Sue Take a Trip or Two. Working with Sue is a dream. We’ve known each other 40 years now and we’ve had some laughs over the years.

I’ve also just finished my first children’s book and I’m waiting for an illustrator to come and see me. I try it out on my grandkids, and they absolutely love it. It’s an adventure story but it also mentions the environment and looking after the countryside, although it’s not dogmatic.

In the meantime, what are you looking forward to most about the 2024 UK and Ireland tour of Irish Annie’s?

This might sound corny, but I’m looking forward to meeting the people after the show who come to see us. I’m old-fashioned, and I am what I am, but I want to say to them – thanks for coming to this show, thanks for giving us your support.

And we spend as much time there at the end of the show as we do on stage.

Because we have a great time when we’re on the road. We all get along together like a house on fire, and not a lot of people can say that. We play practical jokes on one another, we have laughs. That’s what I’m looking forward to as well.

The show also sees the return of Catherine Rice as Irish Annie and Asa Murphy as Seamus Murphy. New to the company are Michael Alan-Bailey as Porky the Postman and Joe, Richard Barry as Noel Singen-Smithe and Maria Lovelady as Moira the Money Lender and May. There may even be an extra celebrity guest popping through the pub door at some venues.

Irish Annie’s is written by Asa Murphy (Buddy Holly Lives, The Bobby Darin Story, New Generations), directed by Stephen Fletcher (A Thong For Europe, A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum, NHS The Musical) and co-produced by Bill Elms Productions (Judy & Liza, Jerry Springer The Opera, Swan Song, Something About George).

Producer Bill Elms said:

“Irish Annie’s is the perfect show to bring out around St Patricks Day celebrations, it’s a huge feel-good show filled with great comedy, live music and some larger-than-life characters, I am thrilled that we have such a fantastic cast including Ricky Tomlinson, Asa Murphy, and Catherine Rice. 

“The show premiered in Liverpool a couple of years ago and went down a storm, now it’s even bigger and better than before, this will be our largest tour to date. We are pleased to have Stephen Fletcher on board to direct this new version and we are excited to see what additional magic he can bring to the show. I am looking forward to getting the show on the road, especially as we will also premiere in Ireland.”

Asa Murphy, who has created the show, has been a successful entertainer for over 18 years. He has performed all over the world singing Big Band Swing music and my own self-penned songs.

He has fulfilled many of his dreams as a performer selling out London’s Ronnie Scott’s, topping the bill at the famous Liverpool Empire, and cruising and singing on the most beautiful liners in the world. In 2019 he turned his talents to writing stage musicals and has so far had three hit shows, Buddy Holly Lives, Mack The Knife and Irish Annie’s along with two children’s shows.

Writer, co-producer and performer Asa Murphy added:

“This show is a celebration of everything that makes Irish culture and the people of Ireland so special. Laughter, music, and the ability to make people face life’s difficult obstacles through friendship. 

“I am very proud that the show has been so well received in the UK and with my family originating from Cork and Tralee and many still living in Ireland, the Ireland dates will be a special personal moment and I am looking forward to catching up with family and friends in the Emerald Isle.”

To book tickets to see Ricky Tomlinson in Irish Annie’s click HERE. For the latest news in Liverpool click here.