STAR of TV’s The Royle Family Ricky Tomlinson has created a festive Christmas song helped by a Cheshire man who made the Crazy Frog a musical star.
Ricky teamed up with Maurice Cheetham from Duddon to write Calm Down, recorded at Maurice’s studio.
Maurice, the man responsible for the first Crazy Frog single, has written and produced thousands of TV and radio theme tunes and jingles as well as being a renowned orchestral musician, composer and conductor.
Calm Down was co-written with Ricky and Patrick Aherne, brother of fellow Royle Family star Caroline Aherne.
Scouse comic Ricky, 70, who has a home in Farndon, shot the video for the song in Liverpool with the help of the public, children and dancers and Lewis’s department store which has the oldest grotto in the world.
Ricky, who famously played TV’s Jim Royle, joked: “I have also been approached to record a duets album next with Susan Boyle entitled Royle and Boyle!”
In 2001 he enjoyed a number 15 hit with Are You Lookin’ At Me?. Ricky also stars in the hit Christmas film The Nativity and the Christmas Special of the Royle Family. Maurice and Patrick both produced music for the comedy drama The Fattest Man in Britain which was shown on ITV1 last Sunday.
