Comedy
A-Z
The A-Z of Jason Manford
An alphabetic biography of the Salford comedian, actor and singer who's touring new show A Manford All Seasons
A is for ‘Assembly Bangers’
Having closed a recent tour at the time with his own ode to catchy school singalongs of yesteryear, in 2022 Manford released ‘Assembly Bangers’ as a single. You wouldn’t exactly want it hear it in the club, but it charted at No.2, with proceeds going to the Trussell Trust.
B is for Buzz Comedy Club
Manford got his break in the world of stand-up fortuitously while collecting glasses at the Buzz Comedy Club in Chorlton, Manchester. When a performer didn’t turn up, it was time for the 17-year-old to shine.
C is for Curtains
Perhaps after realising Manford’s vocal talents in Born To Shine, the West End took notice as a career in musical theatre unfolded before him. In 2019, he landed the lead role in Curtains as the musical theatre-loving detective Lieutenant Frank Cioffi.
D is for Daisy & Ollie
Manford voices the character of Daisy’s Daddy in the children’s animated series Daisy & Ollie.
E is for 8 Out of 10 Cats
A bit of creative license was needed with the spelling here, but the comedian was indeed a favourite regular team captain on Channel 4’s statistics-based panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats.
F is for Fatherhood
Manford is a father of six children, and he has often commented that aside from his work, his only hobby is hanging out with his kids. Here he is back in 2009 reflecting on his own father (around the time he released the Turning Into My Dad special) and looking forward to the first (of many) of his own…
G is for ghosts
Though he might not strictly believe in ghosts or spirits, Manford was spooked out when his daughter repeatedly noticed a man who looked like a soldier behind him during video calls before performing in Sweeney Todd at the Adelphi Theatre. A stage hand seemed confident it was William Terriss, an actor murdered in 1887 by the stage door. You’ll never guess what role he was meant to play…
H is for Hedgehog
In 2020 the star surprised the judges of The Masked Singer as a kind of steam-punk Hedgehog, keeping his alter-ego a secret from even his children. He has commented that the public seemed to take his singing talents serious after appearing on the show, despite having performed in musicals for about a decade.
I is for Ideal
When a dark comedy is set in Salford of all places, the producers would be remiss to not invite one of the area’s most successful funnymen. Running for seven seasons and starring Johnny Vegas and Nicola Reynolds, Manford made a couple of cameos in BBC Three’s Ideal.
J is for Jack And The Beanstalk
2023 marked Manford’s fifth year climbing the beanstalk at Opera House Manchester, taking the lead in the Christmas panto alongside Ben Nickless and Myra Dubois.
K is for Karaoke
In 2019, Manford starred in the BBC sitcom Scarborough, based on a group of friends who meet for karaoke every weekend. Funnily enough, Manford isn’t exactly a stranger to a bit of karaoke…
L is for Lucy
Manford married the TV producer Lucy Dyke in 2017.
M is for Manchester City
Manchester is blue, according to Jason Manford.
N is for Ninjas
The charitable kind, that is. In 2014, Manford set up Charity Ninjas, a way for good samaritans around the country to anonymously donate to good causes, such as helping to fund a two-year-old’s prosthetic leg, or raising millions for Teenage Cancer Trust.
O is for Opera
In 2011, Manford won the first and only series of Born To Shine, a game show in which teenagers teach celebs new skills, after learning to sing opera from a 14-year-old choir boy.
P is for Padel
It’s the Mexican racket sport that everyone and their neighbour seems to be playing at the moment, not least Manford, who has been finding courts and playing with fans while on tour.
Q is for QI
Manford is in the upper echelons on the QI invite list, currently racking up 18 appearances.
R is for Recent Nostalgia
In 2022, the comedian released a special filmed in Sheffield’s City Hall, in which he looks back at lockdown and even as far back to his early days supporting Peter Kay.
S is for Something Rotten!
When it first appeared in 2015, Manford became enamoured by the Broadway hit about two brothers struggling to compete with “The Bard” by writing the world’s first ever musical. Earlier this year, he helped deliver its West End debut as the lead Nick Bottom “with evident relish” (The Guardian).
T is for Touring
The Salford comic has just added another 89 dates to his A Manford All Seasons tour, meaning he’ll be on the road until November 2025!
U is for University of Salford
It was Manford’s friend and comedic influence Peter Kay who advised him to study media and performance, as he too had done before. Manford didn’t have the sufficient grades to typically get in, but managed to win a place by auditioning.
V is for Voiceovers
The comedian’s dulcet, northern tones has made him a popular voice on TV spots, appearing on adverts such as Churchill Insurance – though as himself, not the Ohhh yes bulldog.
W is for Waterloo Road
In 2024, Manford joined the cast of BBC school drama Waterloo Road, as Steve Savage, the new headmaster no least.
X is for Xbox
Manford performed the voice of the mortar specialist, Private Jammy in the Xbox 360 hit Fable III.
Y is for Youth
Much of Manford’s comedic inspiration draws on anecdotes from his childhood.
Z is for Zeke
In 2023, Manford starred in a London Palladium performance of The Wizard of Oz as the Cowardly Lion, whose alter-ego is called Zeke!
A Manford All Seasons is on tour until November 2025 – find tickets here
