The rest of the year if you're working, you're doing weddings, TV shows, radio, personal appearances and you aren't flat out. Later European versions of the 'Divorcing Jack' DVD had May McFettridge segments edited out due to social sensitivities in Eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic or Slovakia. The 68-year-old entertainer and actor from north Belfast is a familiar sight in Northern Ireland's panto scene where he performs as hilarious alter ego May McFettridge. XS Noize looks back on this momentous release from a band that would become the ‘Fab Five’ of the ‘80s.

As a hr professional, I am constantly reminding colleagues that it is highly likely we will all be working until 70 or 80 years of age. Jimmy, 72, with his funny hat and his wellies on the wrong feet, will be reading his letter from his Mammy and getting up to his usual shenanigans. Since that time, Linehan has topped the bill as his character in the Christmas Pantomime in the Grand Opera House in Belfast for thirty consecutive years (2019/20 season).May will be joined on stage by the hilarious Phil Walker, who recently toured with comedy superstar Jason Manford, as Muddles, and Paddy Jenkins who featured in the Oscar and BAFTA award-winning short film An Irish Goodbye, as The Wicked Queen’s Henchman.

Despite its spiritual theme, John wants to ensure audiences are aware May isn’t taking a serious turn, as the play will still feature her typical Belfast humour — but warns ticketholders she won’t be in her typical panto dame form due to the format. John Linehan was a car mechanic before he rose to fame in the guise of his plain-speaking, gap-toothed housewife character, May McFettridge. In 2006, John was award an MBE for his charitable services and in 2014 he was awarded a bronze bust of May McFettridge outside The Grand Opera House to honour his many years of bringing smiles to adults and children alike.

Google Analytics sets this cookie to calculate visitor, session and campaign data and track site usage for the site's analytics report. In those days, when Sinn Fein politicians could be seen but not heard on television and radio, this audaciously apt ad-lib brought the house down. When asked about the turnaround between A Happy Medium wrapping, and the start of rehearsals for Snow White, John shared a notable admission. There will be a relaxed performance of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs on 09 January 2024, attendees can view a visual Social Story here. Recognised as one of the greatest character acts to emerge from Northern Ireland, May’s unique ability to involve audience members in her shows have made her one of the most popular and best loved comic performers in the country.

There are no bad apples in this cast, with young Dublin actress Aisling Sharkey having the crowd rooting for Snow White as the Queen tried to poison her. The kids will love it," says John, revealing May will make a dramatic entrance on a hot air balloon.

It is a farce about men taking liberties, women taking control, and the dangers of dressing up as a bat. Appearing in his trademark outfit of cut-off evening trousers, dinner jacket, hat and Wellington boots marked ‘L’ and ‘R’ for left and right, but worn on the wrong feet, his routine was a fast-moving, gag-a-minute, focusing on his unique interpretation of Irish logic. The show was part of lur Cinn Fleadh, an annual traditional Irish music and community festival in Newry City, County Down. In 2013 John had a knee replacement at Kingsbridge Private Hospital, Belfast after years of crippling pain. A bronze bust of the buxom Belfast backstreet bombshell takes pride of place in the Grand Opera House.

John Joseph Linehan, MBE (born 1952, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is an Irish entertainer, most known for his drag queen character May McFettridge. This Christmas May will play the Nurse in the Opera House's Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, with Swedish blonde Britt Eklund and former skating champion Robin Cousins cast in the unenviable roles of the celebrity sacrificial lambs. It is part of lur Cinn Fleadh, an annual traditional Irish music and community festival in Newry City, County Down.It’s a brilliant comedy of male paranoia, bringing out the absurdity of man’s egomania and obsessions with sexual potency, conquests and status. Dresden-born Stephan Loges, who will perform the role of Falke, has given recitals throughout the world, including regular appearances at Wigmore Hall, London as well as Carnegie Hall, New York, Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Vienna Konzerthaus, Klavierfestival Ruhr, La Monnaie Brussels, Schleswig-Holstein Festival, Santiago de Compostela, BBC Radio 3 and the Musée d’Orsay, Paris.