Jason Manford

Early life

Jason John Manford was born on 26 May 1981 in Salford, the son of Sharon (née Ryan) and courtroom stenographer and trade union shop steward in the NHS Ian Manford. His maternal grandmother, Nora (née Peate), was an Irish Catholic from Dublin. Manford and his four siblings grew up in a terraced house in the Whalley Range area of Manchester. 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!. While working as a glass collector at a local pub, 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. 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 and is also a stand-up comedian.

Career

Television

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

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

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

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. On 21 September 2014, Manford guest hosted an episode of Sunday Night at the Palladium.

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

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.

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

In 2020, Manford came in second place as the Hedgehog on The Masked Singer. 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.

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

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.

Stand–up

Following a successful first UK tour 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.

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.

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.

Singing

Manford comes from a family of singers and musicians 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 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. The single charted at number two on the UK Official Singles Sales Chart on 2 December 2022.

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

Theatre

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.

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.

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.

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. 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.

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.

Video Games

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

Influences

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

Charity

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

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

Personal life

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. The family lived in Bramhall.

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

Manford is a supporter of Manchester City FC.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

As lead artist

As featured artist

Performances and works

Television

Film

Theatre

Stand-up DVDs

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

References

References

1. Laws, Roz. (14 August 2010). "7 things you never knew about Jason Manford".
2. Fletcher, Damien. (28 May 2010). "Meet Jason Manford - he's The One to make Christine Bleakley laugh".
3. "... my dad was union leader and shop steward in the NHS for decades ...".
4. Jason Manford, ''Brung Up Proper: My Autobiography'' (2012), p. 23
5. Interview, ''[[The Graham Norton Show]]'', 28 June 2010.
6. (20 November 2011). "This much I know: Jason Manford". [[The Guardian]].
7. (27 September 2011). "Jason Manford: How Peter Kay got me into Salford University". [[Manchester Evening News]].
8. (15 January 2009). "Jason Manford: Interview". [[Time Out (company).
9. (12 November 2011). "Colin Manford to follow in the footsteps of famous brother Jason".
10. [http://www.mancunianmatters.co.uk/content/300666028-stepping-out-his-brothers-shadow-colin-manford Shadow: Colin Manford] {{Webarchive. link. (24 April 2014 , mancunianmatters.co.uk, 30 June 2010; retrieved 24 April 2014.)
11. (1 October 2006). "BBC Three - Ideal, Series 1, The Boyfriend". BBC.
12. [http://www.xfm.co.uk/onair/djs/jason-manford Jason Manford] {{webarchive. link. (24 January 2010 Xfm, 24 December 2006)
13. [http://www.how-do.co.uk/north-west-media-news/north-west-broadcasting/mike-mcclean-to-take-over-from-jason-manford-at-xfm-200805062507/ Mike McClean to take over from Jason Manford at Xfm] {{webarchive. link. (6 May 2008 How-Do, 6 May 2008)
14. [http://www.comedy.co.uk/podcasts/richard_herring_edinburgh/ Comedy.co.uk] Richard Herring's Edinburgh fringe Podcast 26 August 2013
15. [https://www.mirror.co.uk/celebs/news/2010/05/21/jason-manford-10-things-you-need-to-know-about-the-english-comedian-writer-actor-and-television-presenter-115875-22273095/ 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. (26 May 2010). "Comic Jason Manford named One Show host". BBC News.
17. (19 November 2010). "Jason Manford quits The One Show". BBC News.
18. Guide, British Comedy. (14 May 2014). "Jason Manford to host 'A Question of Sport: Super Saturday'".
19. "Sunday Night at the Palladium Episode 2".
20. [[Ordinary Lies]]
21. (1 June 2015). "Jason Manford to host ITV topical show".
22. "Jason Manford creates his own kids' cartoon". [[Chortle]].
23. "What Would Your Kid Do? ITV announce new show fronted by Jason Manford".
24. Fitzpatrick, Katie. (15 February 2020). "Jason Manford revealed as Hedgehog on The Masked Singer as winner is crowned".
25. "When is The Royal Variety Performance 2020 on? Host, line-up, air date, venue". radiotimes.com.
26. (3 May 2021). "Unbeatable".
27. BBC, Media Centre. (2024-02-27). "Jason Manford to join cast of BBC's Waterloo Road as new Headteacher Mr Savage".
28. (September 2008). "Jason Manford 2008/09 tour". Chortle.
29. [http://www.walesonline.co.uk/showbiz-and-lifestyle/showbiz/2010/03/16/jason-manford-rocks-the-comedy-circuit-91466-26042664/ Jason Manford rocks the comedy circuit] Wales Online, 16 March 2010.
30. "Jason Manford".
31. "Fitness Equipment for Professionals - TLI.co.uk".
32. (21 August 2011). "Jason Manford wins ''Born to Shine''". Chortle.
33. Bedigan, Mike. (24 November 2022). "New Jason Manford school assembly-themed single to raise funds for UK food banks".
34. (2 December 2022). "Official Singles Chart Top 100. 02 December 2022 - 08 December 2022".
35. (16 December 2022). "Assembly Bangers The Album".
36. (16 December 2022). "Hey! Released another track this morning #ChristmasAssemblyBangers as well as a full album of #AssemblyBangers, all proceeds go to TrussellTrust".
37. "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang tour – Jason Manford and Lee Mead share lead role {{!}} Musical Theatre Review".
38. Dillon, Luke. "Adrian Lester, Jason Manford & Meow Meow cast in Guys and Dolls {{!}} West End Theatre".
39. Mayo, Douglas. (1 November 2019). "Curtains the musical to premiere at Wyndham's Theatre this Xmas".
40. Thomas, Sophie. (2023-02-23). "Jason Manford and Ashley Banjo to star in 'The Wizard of Oz'".
41. Square1. "Jason Manford Is Writing A Musical With Gary Barlow About Captain Hook - 11th June 2025".
42. "Microsoft.com".
43. (8 January 2009). "Jason Manford". The List.
44. [http://www.chesterchronicle.co.uk/entertainment-chester/chester-cinema-film-tv/2009/07/20/jason-manford-how-jason-became-the-man-59067-24196870/ 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.
46. "Jason Manford – I have a few comedy clubs dotted around...". Facebook.
47. "Jason Manford Tour". express.co.uk.
48. (3 June 2010). "One Show spot for Jason Manford". M.E.N. Media.
49. (10 September 2024). "Jason Manford's life off-screen with talented TV star wife and six children after first marriage 'disintegrated'". M.E.N. Media.
50. (28 March 2010). "Jason Manford's big 5". mcfc.co.uk.
51. "Tokio Myers {{!}} full Official Chart history". [[Official Charts Company]].
52. "Christmas Number 1: Ed Sheeran, Eminem and Wham! go head to head after 24 hours".
53. (26 May 2015). "Jason Manford is fronting a new Dave show".
54. "Jason Manford to host new quiz Unbeatable for BBC One Daytime".
55. "The Wheel Christmas Special".
56. "8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown: Christmas Special 2021".
57. "Big Night of Musicals by the National Lottery".
58. "The Olivier Awards 2022".
59. "The National Lottery's Big Jubilee Street Party".
60. (21 November 2022). "BBC Children in Need's 2022 Appeal raises £35million".
61. "Freddie & Jason: Two Men in a Tent".
62. (27 September 2022). "ITV unveils Christmas celebrity singing contest to support mental health with 'Britain Get Singing'".
63. "The National Lottery's New Year's Eve Big Bash".
64. "The National Lottery's New Year's Eve Big Bash".
65. "Jason Manford, Chelcee Grimes and Fleur East to present special Eurovision Song Contest BBC shows".
66. "Jason Manford is set to host new BBC One quiz show The Answer Run".
67. "Jason Manford to return as host for series two of The Answer Run".
68. "Royal Variety Line-Up Annoucement".
69. [https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Jason-Manford-Will-Lead-SOMETHING-ROTTEN-Concert-at-Theatre-Royal-Drury-Lane-20240501 Jason Manford Will Lead SOMETHING ROTTEN! Concert at Theatre Royal Drury Lane]
70. "Jason Manford: First World Problems [DVD]". [[Amazon.com.