Merseyside Mirth Makers - Crissy Rock

Crissy Rock

Crissy was born as Christine Murray in Sefton General Hospital, Smithdown Road,Liverpool on the 23rd of September 1958 to Edward and Margaret (née Bryan) Murray. They lived with Margaret's mum Hetty in her two bedroomed flat at 11D Windsor Gardens, Liverpool 8 on the fourth floor of the tenament block. Crissy attended St. Saviours Primary School on Crown Street.
After getting married in 1983 she began working the clubs as a stand-up comedian and then appeared nationwide when starring on the BBC's ' Bob Says Opportunity Knocks'. On the show she was given the highest marks for any comedy act on the series. Bob Monkhouse later said: "She has the art of timing and had me in stitches".

In 1991, following a period of ill health, Crissy returned to the stage, taking bookings on the club and cabaret circuit. Within months, she was voted runner up in the "Club Comedian of the Year" competition for the Merseyside region.
By 1993, her career had started to take off as she performed her act in clubs in Blackpool, Newcastle, Birmingham, Leeds, Sheffield, South Wales, and London. By 1994, Crissy Rock was bill-topping at the Central Pier and the famous Blackpool Tower.

In 'Ladybird. Ladybird'

Whilst working the clubs as a stand-up comedian she was spotted by 'Royle Family' star and fellow Liverpudlian, Ricky Tomlinson, who recommended her for a part in the Ken Loach film, 'Ladybird Ladybird'. This was her debut acting performance portraying Maggie Conlan in the award-winning 1994 film. Loach later recalled: "I cannot think of anyone I have worked with who shines more brightly than Crissy Rock". Her performance won her numerous awards, including 'Best Actress' at the Berlin Film Festival and also 'Best Actress' at London Film Critics Awards, and she also received a 'Best Newcomer' nomination in the Evening Standard Awards. Film critic Gene Siskel said on the CBS 'This Morning' programme, "No Oscar ceremony will be complete without a nomination for this brilliant performance".
She later starred in Brookside, Peak Practice, Clocking Off and in the TV film Brazen Hussies alongside Julie Walters, Robert Lindsay, Jimmy Tarbuck and Julian Cleary. In the early 2000's, before she decided to settle there, she was on holiday in Benidorm and happened to be in Valentines Cabaret Bar. She got talking to the owner and said that she was a comedienne from the UK and would do a slot for him – he chuckled and said that "everyone from England is a comedian"! But she struck a deal and said that she would do 3 nights for free for him. Well, the place was absolutely jam packed and he couldn´t get her back in quick enough. Unfortunately for him, she was heading back to the UK but returned and spent many years working a number of months at a time here.

As Janey York in 'Benidorm'

Ironically in 2008 writer Derren Litten spotted her entertaining holidaymakers which resulted in Crissy taking on the role of loudmouthed hotel manageress Janey York in ITV's highly successful comedy series 'Benidorm'. She said: "I lived in Benidorm at the time and I was just about to come home and I ended up staying another seven years. I didn’t realise how well received it had been until I came back to England."
Even though deeply affected by the physical and mental abuse received early in her life resulting in trauma and turmoil, she has achieved so much. She has had acclaim and received many awards for her acting on stage and screen but is still insistent that she keeps her roots in Comedy and is in great demand on the cabaret scene for her indomitable, wicked sense of humour. Crissy is particularly popular on the 'After Dinner' circuit where she is regarded as one of the country's top female speakers.

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