John Linehan (entertainer)

John Linehan
Born 1952
Belfast, Northern Ireland.
Known for Charity work/Panto Dame
Spouse(s) Brenda
Children 2 daughters

John Joseph Linehan, MBE (born 1952, Belfast, Northern Ireland) is a Northern Irish entertainer, most known for his drag queen character May McFettridge. Linehan has, in character, been a long-running feature on local radio and television, as well as a regular pantomime dame.

May McFettridge

John Linehan was a car mechanic before he rose to fame in the guise of his plain-speaking, gap-toothed housewife character, May McFettridge. Eamonn Holmes, a relative, had asked Linehan to phone his then radio show, to liven the programme up. Linehan pretended to be a Belfast housewife, and the banter between the two attracted an unprecedented number of positive phone calls to the radio studio, many asking for a return of the women as a regular on the show.[1]

Linehan invented the name and the character by ad libbing — the first name being that of his mother-in-law and the surname being that of an Antrim hurler by the name of Olcan McFettridge, whose exploits in a National Hurling League game had made headlines in the local newspaper, The Irish News, which happened to be beside Linehan when put on the spot.

The character became a regular on Downtown Radio. Since that time, Linehan has topped the bill as his character in the Christmas Pantomime in the Grand Opera House in Belfast for twenty-five consecutive years (2014).[2]

On the 2nd of December 2014, John was presented on stage with a bust of May McFettridge to mark his 25th consecutive year of performing at the Grand Opera House's pantomime. The bust will be kept permanently on view in the Grand Circle of the theatre opposite the bust of Frank Matcham, the architect of the building.

Nick Thomas, Chairman of Qdos Entertainment presenting the commemorative bust to be displayed at the Grand Opera House, Belfast

He/she was described by John Daly as 'the face that sank a thousand ships' during a charity event at the Odyssey in Belfast.

Charity work

Linehan is also involved in charity work, appearing regularly in Northern Ireland's Children in Need broadcasts, and organising events such as golfing tournaments to help raise money for Children of the Crossfire. He was awarded the MBE in 2006 for charitable services in Northern Ireland.[3]

Pantomime

Linehan as McFettridge in pantomime

Linehan starred as McFettridge every year in the Grand Opera House Pantomime, which are huge successes. He usually plays a very comical role in the show and leaves every audience in stitches of laughter. Here are some of his panto roles:

Other appearances

Linehan appeared in the film Divorcing Jack as the 'Announcer'. Later European versions of the 'Divorcing Jack' DVD had May McFetridge segments edited out due to social sensitivities in Eastern European countries such as the Czech Republic or Slovakia.

Personal life

He is married to Brenda, and they have two daughters.

Linehan has a long association with Northern Amateur Football League club Malachians F.C. and spent two seasons as manager of their reserve team.[4]

In the early 1980s, Linehan was diagnosed as having syringomyelia and he had neurosurgery in 1983 following which he had meningitis. The syringomyelia has caused muscle wastage and some loss of sensation on his left side.

References

  1. ↑ David Hull Promotions Archived 2008-01-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  2. ↑ Grand Opera House website
  3. ↑ Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister website
  4. ↑ Malachians Celebrate With Reunion
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