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Jason Manford

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Jason Manford
Manford in January 2013
Born
Jason John Manford

(1981-05-26) 26 May 1981 (age 44)
Salford, England
EducationUniversity of Salford (BA)
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • presenter
  • actor
  • singer
Years active1999–present
Spouses
Catherine Manford
​
​
(m. 2007; div. 2013)​
Lucy Dyke
​
(m. 2017)​
Children6
Websitejasonmanford.com

Jason John Manford (born 26 May 1981) is an English comedian, presenter, actor and singer.

Manford was a team captain on the Channel 4 panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats from 2007 until 2010 and has presented television shows for the BBC and ITV including Comedy Rocks (2010–2011), The One Show (2010), Show Me the Funny (2011), A Question of Sport: Super Saturday (2014), Bigheads (2017) and Children In Need (2022), and was one of four judges on ITV's Starstruck (2022).

Manford has starred in stage musicals in the West End and across the UK such as Sweeney Todd, The Producers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys and Dolls, Curtains and The Wizard of Oz.

Early life

[edit]

Jason John Manford was born in Salford on 26 May 1981, the son of Sharon (née Ryan)[1] and courtroom stenographer and trade union shop steward in the NHS Ian Manford.[2][3] His maternal grandmother, Nora (née Peate), was an Irish Catholic from Dublin.[4][5] Manford and his four siblings grew up in a terraced house in the Whalley Range area of Manchester.[2][6] He attended St Margaret's Primary School in Whalley Range, and later Chorlton High School (at the time known as Oakwood High School). He formed a band in school with two friends, Simon and Neil, with his mother later saying that this was what got him into singing.

During a Twitter exchange in which Manford defended strike action taken by British Railway workers in the ASLEF trade union, Manford recalled the various workplaces he had worked in before his current career including building sites, call centres, shops, bars, warehouses and offices. He stated: "I didn't just leave school and say 'right, I'm off to play the arena!'".[3] While working as a glass collector at a local pub,[7] Manford became interested in comedy after watching the likes of Eddie Izzard, Peter Kay and Johnny Vegas perform at the local comedy club. Kay recommended him to undertake an HND in media and performance at the University of Salford, which Kay himself had done.[8] Despite not having the required A-level grades, he was accepted into the programme and eventually upgraded to a full degree. His brother Colin, also a University of Salford graduate, followed him into performing[9] and is also a stand-up comedian.[10]

Career

[edit]

Television

[edit]

From June to November 2007, Manford had a small part in Ideal as Jack.[11] He later made another appearance in episode five of the series. He hosted a breakfast show on Xfm Manchester[12] until May 2008.[13]

From June to November 2007, Manford was Paramount Comedy's continuity announcer and writer.[14] In June 2007, he took over from Dave Spikey as a team captain on 8 Out of 10 Cats.[15]

On 26 May 2010, Manford was announced as the new presenter of BBC One's The One Show from July 2010.[16] He resigned from the programme in November 2010 following allegations surrounding his private life.[17]

Since 21 June 2014, Manford has hosted a BBC One show called A Question of Sport: Super Saturday, a spin-off from BBC panel show A Question of Sport.[18] On 21 September 2014, Manford guest hosted an episode of Sunday Night at the Palladium.[19]

Manford played the role of Marty in the 2015 BBC Drama Ordinary Lies.[20] In 2015, he hosted The Money Pit for Dave and It's a Funny Old Week for ITV.[21]

Since 2017, he has been the voice of Daisy's dad in a CHF Entertainment cartoon called Daisy & Ollie. He also writes some of the episodes for it.[22]

In 2018, he fronted What Would Your Kid Do?, a new series for ITV.[23]

In 2020, Manford came in second place as the Hedgehog on The Masked Singer.[24] Manford hosted The Royal Variety Performance 2020 from the Blackpool Opera House, with performances including Gary Barlow, Melanie C, Steps and Britain's Got Talent 2020 winner Jon Courtenay.[25]

In May 2021, Manford became the presenter of BBC quiz show Unbeatable.[26]

In February 2024, it was confirmed that Manford had joined the cast of BBC's Waterloo Road as the school's new headteacher, Steve Savage.[27]

Stand–up

[edit]

After a successful first UK tour[28] and high sales of the following DVD, filmed live at the Manchester Apollo, he began his "Turning into My Dad" tour on 14 July 2010.[29]

He toured the UK with "First-World Problems" from June to December 2013 and produced a DVD of the same name. His show "Muddle Class" was toured across the UK until the end of 2018. His tour "Like Me" began in early September 2020 and finished in October 2021.[30]

In 2011 Manford became one of the shareholders of the Chester comedy club The Laugh Inn. He frequented the club to see shows and support the circuit comedians, as well as performing impromptu shows. The club closed in 2013.[31]

Singing

[edit]

Manford comes from a family of singers and musicians[10] and sang regularly with them. In the TV competition Born to Shine in 2011, he was taught daily to sing in an operatic style; he went on to win[32] the show, and has released an album of show tunes, titled A Different Stage.

On 25 November 2022, Manford released the single "Assembly Bangers", a song he had been closing his standup show with. The track is a medley of songs nostalgically associated with school assemblies including "This Little Light of Mine", "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" and "Lord of the Dance". Profits were donated to Trussell Trust's Emergency Fund Appeal.[33] The single charted at number two on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart on 2 December 2022.[34]

On 16 December 2022, Manford released Assembly Bangers: The Album with Chris Sutherland,[35] with the "Christmas Assembly Bangers" single being released on the same day. Proceeds were donated to the Trussell Trust.[36]

Theatre

[edit]

Manford made his musical theatre debut appearing for a short run as Adolfo Pirelli in the 2012 West End revival of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street opposite Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton at the Adelphi Theatre

In 2015, he starred as Leo Bloom in Mel Brooks' The Producers on a UK tour alongside Cory English, Phill Jupitus, Ross Noble, Louie Spence and David Bedella. The following year in 2016 to 2017 he played Caractacus Potts (sharing the role with Lee Mead) in the UK tour of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang opposite Phill Jupitus, Andy Hockley, Michelle Collins, Martin Kemp and Carrie Hope Fletcher.[37]

In 2018, Manford appeared as Nathan Detroit in a staged concert of Guys and Dolls at the Royal Albert Hall with Adrian Lester, Stephen Mangan, Joe Stilgoe and Clive Rowe.[38]

In 2019, he starred in Curtains, a musical whodunnit by Fred Ebb and John Kander, which toured the UK. It moved to the Wyndham's Theatre in London's West End mid-December until mid-January 2020, after which it began a further UK tour.[39]

Manford appeared as the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz from June to September 2023 at the London Palladium opposite Ashley Banjo, Dianne Pilkington, Christina Bianco and Gary Wilmot.[40] He reprised the role the following year when the UK tour visited the Palace Theatre, Manchester.

In 2024, Manford appeared as Nick Bottom in a concert version of the Broadway musical Something Rotten! at Theatre Royal, Drury Lane opposite Marisha Wallace, Gary Wilmot, Richard Fleeshman and Evelyn Hoskins. He will reprise the role in July 2026 at the Manchester Opera House in its full-staged UK premiere.[citation needed]

Since 2022, Manford has starred in the Christmas pantomimes at the Manchester Opera House including Peter Pan, Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella and in 2025 will appear in Robin Hood.

In 2025, Manford announced he is currently writing a new musical with Gary Barlow and Joe Stilgoe about Captain Hook (the antagonist of Peter Pan) as a "Wicked-style" origin story.[41]

Video Games

[edit]

Manford has a minor voice role in the Xbox 360 video game Fable III, playing Jammy, who teaches the player how to use mortars.[42]

Influences

[edit]

Manford has cited Billy Connolly as his comedy hero,[43] after seeing him when he was 11; further, comics such as Tommy Cooper and Peter Kay heavily influenced his comic style.[7]

Charity

[edit]

In November 2008, Manford became patron of Savebabies, a charity campaigning for newborn screening.[44]

In April 2014, Manford became a supporter of the cancer charity Stephen's Story, set up by Stephen Sutton MBE, a 19-year-old blogger with terminal colorectal cancer who set up the initiative to help others suffering from cancer.[45] All profits made by Manford's comedy clubs during May 2014, the month of Sutton's death, were given to the charity.[46]

Personal life

[edit]

Manford married his first wife, Catherine, in October 2007. They had four children together: twin daughters born on 20 August 2009, a third daughter born in December 2010, and a son born in 2012.[47] The family lived in Bramhall.[48]

He married his second wife, Lucy, in 2017, with whom he has two children.[49]

Manford is a supporter of Manchester City FC.[50]

Discography

[edit]

Studio albums

[edit]
Title Details Peak chart positions
UK
[51]
A Different Stage
  • Released: 6 October 2017
  • Label: Decca Records
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 10
Assembly Bangers: The Album
(with Chris Sutherland)
  • Released: 16 December 2022
  • Label: Westway Music
  • Formats: Digital download, streaming
 —

Singles

[edit]

As lead artist

[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions
UK Sales
"Assembly Bangers" 2022 2
"Christmas Assembly Bangers"
(with Chris Sutherland) 		—
[edit]
Title Year Peak chart positions
UK
"Bring Me Sunshine"
Michael Ball & Alfie Boe with the Rays of Sunshine Children's Choir & Friends[52] 		2017 —

Performances and works

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Channel Notes
2000 The Best Manchester Comedy
BBC New Comedy Awards
2002 Gloves Off
Interference
2005 Cutting It Comic BBC One
Gideon's Daughter Comic
Ideal Jack BBC Three
2005–2006 Richard & Judy Channel 4
2006 100 Greatest Funny Moments
Modern Worries
2007 Shuffle
Premier League All Stars Extra Time Presenter Sky1
Shameless Security guard Channel 4
2007–2010 8 Out of 10 Cats Team captain 6 series
2007–2014 Live at the Apollo Featured comic/presenter BBC One 5 episodes
2008 Tonightly Presenter Channel 4 1 series
2009 As Seen on TV Team captain BBC One 1 series
2009–2010 Walk on the Wild Side Various characters
2010 The One Show Co-presenter With Alex Jones
2010–2011 Comedy Rocks with Jason Manford Presenter ITV 1 series
Odd One In Team captain 2 series
The Comedy Annual Featured comic 2 episodes
2011 Born to Shine Contestant Series winner
Show Me the Funny Presenter 1 series
2012–2014 A Funny Old Year Presenter
2012– QI Regular panellist BBC Two
2014 A Question of Sport: Super Saturday Presenter BBC One 1 series
Tommy Cooper: Not Like That, Like This Ken Brooke ITV One-off TV film
2014, 2015 Sunday Night at the Palladium Presenter 2 episodes
2015 Ordinary Lies Marty BBC One 1 series
Money Pit[53] Presenter Dave
It's a Funny Old Week Presenter ITV 1 series
2016, 2024 Have I Got News for You Guest panellist, guest host BBC One 2 episodes
2017 The Nightly Show Guest presenter ITV 5 episodes
The Biggest Night in British Theatre – The Olivier Awards Presenter
Bigheads Presenter 1 series
Benidorm Andre 1 episode
Twirlywoos Tennis player CBeebies 1 episode
2017–present Daisy & Ollie Daisy's Daddy Channel 5 Voice role
104 episodes (4 series)
2018 What Would Your Kid Do? Presenter ITV 2 series (12 episodes)
2019 Scarborough Mike BBC One 1 series
2020 First & Last Presenter 1 series (6 episodes)
2020–2022 The Masked Singer Hedgehog (contestant) ITV 1 series (6 episodes)
2021–2022 Murder, They Hope Freddie Gold Series 1 Episode 3: "Dales of the Unexpected" and Series 2 Episode 2: "A Midsummer Night's Scream
2021–2023 Unbeatable Host BBC One Quiz show (95 episodes)[54]
2021 Death in Paradise Craig Mackenzie BBC One Series 10 Episode 3
The Wheel Himself/celebrity expert Christmas special[55]
8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown: Christmas Special 2021 Himself/contestant Channel 4 Christmas special[56]
2022 Jason Manford's Funniest Ever TV Adverts Himself/presenter Channel 5 TV series (a.k.a. World's Funniest TV Ads with Jason Manford)[citation needed]
Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery Himself/presenter BBC One TV special[57]
Starstruck Judge ITV 2 series
The Olivier Awards 2022 Host [58]
The National Lottery's Big Jubilee Street Party Co-host With Fleur East[59]
Children in Need Co-presenter BBC One With Ade Adepitan, Mel Giedroyc,
Chris Ramsey & Alex Scott[60]
Freddie & Jason: Two Men in a Tent Himself ITV With Freddie Flintoff[61]
Britain Get Singing Judge With judges Alesha Dixon, Adam Lambert and Will.i.am and host Roman Kemp[62]
2022– The National Lottery’s New Year's Eve Big Bash Co-presenter With Alesha Dixon[63][64]
2023 Eurovision Calling: Jason and Chelcee’s Ultimate Guide Co-presenter BBC One With Chelcee Grimes[65]
2024– The Answer Run Host Quiz show.[66] Second series commissioned.[67]
2024 Waterloo Road Steve Savage 8 episodes (Series 14)

Theatre

[edit]
Year Title Role Venue Location
2012 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Adolfo Pirelli Adelphi Theatre West End
2015 The Producers Leo Bloom UK and Ireland tour —
2016-2017 Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Caractacus Potts UK and Ireland tour —
2018 Guys and Dolls In Concert Nathan Detroit Royal Albert Hall London
2019-2020 Curtains Frank Cioffi UK and Ireland tour —
Wyndham's Theatre West End
2022-2023 Peter Pan Captain Hook Manchester Opera House Manchester
2023 The Wizard of Oz The Cowardly Lion / Zeke London Palladium West End
2023-2024 Jack and the Beanstalk Jack Manchester Opera House Manchester
2024 The Wizard of Oz The Cowardly Lion / Zeke Palace Theatre, Manchester Manchester
Something Rotten! In Concert Nick Bottom Theatre Royal Drury Lane[68] West End
2024-2025 Cinderella Prince Charming Manchester Opera House Manchester
2025 Inside No. 9 Stage/Fright Guest star Wyndham's Theatre West End
2025-2026 Robin Hood Robin Hood Manchester Opera House Manchester
2026 Something Rotten! Nick Bottom Manchester Opera House Manchester

Stand-up DVDs

[edit]
  • Live at the Manchester Apollo (16 November 2009)
  • Live 2011 (14 November 2011)
  • First World Problems (10 November 2014)[69]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Laws, Roz (14 August 2010). "7 things you never knew about Jason Manford". BirminghamLive.
  2. ^ a b Fletcher, Damien (28 May 2010). "Meet Jason Manford - he's The One to make Christine Bleakley laugh". mirror.
  3. ^ a b @JasonManford (6 October 2022). "... my dad was union leader and shop steward in the NHS for decades ..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ^ Jason Manford, Brung Up Proper: My Autobiography (2012), p. 23
  5. ^ Interview, The Graham Norton Show, 28 June 2010.
  6. ^ "This much I know: Jason Manford". The Guardian. 20 November 2011.
  7. ^ a b "Jason Manford: How Peter Kay got me into Salford University". Manchester Evening News. 27 September 2011. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  8. ^ "Jason Manford: Interview". Time Out. 15 January 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  9. ^ "Colin Manford to follow in the footsteps of famous brother Jason". 12 November 2011. Archived from the original on 8 July 2012. Retrieved 25 February 2012.
  10. ^ a b Shadow: Colin Manford Archived 24 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine, mancunianmatters.co.uk, 30 June 2010; retrieved 24 April 2014.
  11. ^ "BBC Three - Ideal, Series 1, The Boyfriend". BBC. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  12. ^ Jason Manford Archived 24 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine Xfm, 24 December 2006
  13. ^ Mike McClean to take over from Jason Manford at Xfm Archived 6 May 2008 at the Wayback Machine How-Do, 6 May 2008
  14. ^ Comedy.co.uk Richard Herring's Edinburgh fringe Podcast 26 August 2013
  15. ^ Jason Manford: 10 things you need to know about the man tipped as the new One Show host, Mirror.co.uk, 21 May 2010.
  16. ^ "Comic Jason Manford named One Show host". BBC News. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Jason Manford quits The One Show". BBC News. 19 November 2010.
  18. ^ Guide, British Comedy (14 May 2014). "Jason Manford to host 'A Question of Sport: Super Saturday'". British Comedy Guide. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  19. ^ "Sunday Night at the Palladium Episode 2". Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  20. ^ Ordinary Lies
  21. ^ "Jason Manford to host ITV topical show". Digital Spy. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  22. ^ "Jason Manford creates his own kids' cartoon". Chortle. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
  23. ^ "What Would Your Kid Do? ITV announce new show fronted by Jason Manford". Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  24. ^ Fitzpatrick, Katie (15 February 2020). "Jason Manford revealed as Hedgehog on The Masked Singer as winner is crowned". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 16 February 2020.
  25. ^ "When is The Royal Variety Performance 2020 on? Host, line-up, air date, venue". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  26. ^ "Unbeatable". bbc.co.uk. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 10 May 2021.
  27. ^ BBC, Media Centre (27 February 2024). "Jason Manford to join cast of BBC's Waterloo Road as new Headteacher Mr Savage". BBC Media Centre. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
  28. ^ "Jason Manford 2008/09 tour". Chortle. September 2008. Retrieved 15 November 2008.
  29. ^ Jason Manford rocks the comedy circuit Wales Online, 16 March 2010.
  30. ^ "Jason Manford". Ents24. Archived from the original on 14 April 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  31. ^ "Fitness Equipment for Professionals - TLI.co.uk". thelaughinnchester.co.uk. Archived from the original on 18 September 2018. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  32. ^ "Jason Manford wins Born to Shine". Chortle. 21 August 2011. Retrieved 18 September 2017.
  33. ^ Bedigan, Mike (24 November 2022). "New Jason Manford school assembly-themed single to raise funds for UK food banks". Evening Standard. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  34. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100. 02 December 2022 - 08 December 2022". Official Charts Company. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  35. ^ "Assembly Bangers The Album". Apple Music. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  36. ^ "Hey! Released another track this morning #ChristmasAssemblyBangers as well as a full album of #AssemblyBangers, all proceeds go to TrussellTrust". Twitter. 16 December 2022. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  37. ^ "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour – Jason Manford and Lee Mead share lead role | Musical Theatre Review". Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  38. ^ Dillon, Luke. "Adrian Lester, Jason Manford & Meow Meow cast in Guys and Dolls | West End Theatre". www.westendtheatre.com. Retrieved 22 September 2025.
  39. ^ Mayo, Douglas (1 November 2019). "Curtains the musical to premiere at Wyndham's Theatre this Xmas". britishtheatre.com. Retrieved 19 December 2019.
  40. ^ Thomas, Sophie (23 February 2023). "Jason Manford and Ashley Banjo to star in 'The Wizard of Oz'". London Theatre. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  41. ^ Square1. "Jason Manford Is Writing A Musical With Gary Barlow About Captain Hook - 11th June 2025". www.98fm.com. Retrieved 22 September 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ "Microsoft.com". Microsoft. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  43. ^ "Jason Manford". The List. 8 January 2009. Retrieved 28 August 2009.
  44. ^ Jason Manford: How Jason became the man Chester Chronicle, 20 July 2009.
  45. ^ Nicole Le Marie (24 April 2014). "Stephen's Story: Jason Manford's £2m aim for Stephen Sutton fundraising appeal | Metro News". Metro.co.uk. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  46. ^ "Jason Manford – I have a few comedy clubs dotted around..." Facebook. Retrieved 26 April 2014.
  47. ^ "Jason Manford Tour". express.co.uk.
  48. ^ "One Show spot for Jason Manford". Manchester Evening News. M.E.N. Media. 3 June 2010. Archived from the original on 6 June 2010.
  49. ^ "Jason Manford's life off-screen with talented TV star wife and six children after first marriage 'disintegrated'". Manchester Evening News. M.E.N. Media. 10 September 2024.
  50. ^ "Jason Manford's big 5". mcfc.co.uk. 28 March 2010. Archived from the original on 3 June 2010. Retrieved 24 February 2011.
  51. ^ "Tokio Myers | full Official Chart history". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
  52. ^ "Christmas Number 1: Ed Sheeran, Eminem and Wham! go head to head after 24 hours". OfficialCharts.com. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  53. ^ "Jason Manford is fronting a new Dave show". Digital Spy. 26 May 2015. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  54. ^ "Jason Manford to host new quiz Unbeatable for BBC One Daytime". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  55. ^ "The Wheel Christmas Special". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 20 December 2021.
  56. ^ "8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown: Christmas Special 2021". channel4.com. Retrieved 26 December 2021.
  57. ^ "Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  58. ^ "The Olivier Awards 2022". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 3 March 2022.
  59. ^ "The National Lottery's Big Jubilee Street Party". national-lottery.co.uk. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  60. ^ "BBC Children in Need's 2022 Appeal raises £35million". bbcchildreninneed. 21 November 2022. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  61. ^ "Freddie & Jason: Two Men in a Tent". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 26 November 2022.
  62. ^ "ITV unveils Christmas celebrity singing contest to support mental health with 'Britain Get Singing'". uk.news.yahoo.com. 27 September 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
  63. ^ "The National Lottery's New Year's Eve Big Bash". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 8 December 2022.
  64. ^ "The National Lottery's New Year's Eve Big Bash". itv.com/presscentre. Retrieved 23 December 2023.
  65. ^ "Jason Manford, Chelcee Grimes and Fleur East to present special Eurovision Song Contest BBC shows". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  66. ^ "Jason Manford is set to host new BBC One quiz show The Answer Run". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  67. ^ "Jason Manford to return as host for series two of The Answer Run". bbc.co.uk/mediacentre. Retrieved 4 February 2025.
  68. ^ Jason Manford Will Lead SOMETHING ROTTEN! Concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane
  69. ^ "Jason Manford: First World Problems [DVD]". Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Jason Manford.
Preceded by Co-host of The One Show (Monday-Thursday)
2010 		Succeeded by

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