CityLife

No slowing down for new dad Manford

BUSY BOY: Manford

IT was back to work this week for comedian and new dad Jason Manford.

His wife gave birth to twin girls in August but the last few days have seen the former CityLife Comedian of the Year warming up for the continuation of his nationwide tour.

“It’s a bit weird coming back from a gig and having to change nappies rather than having a go on the PlayStation,” he laughs.

But Jason and his other half are coping well, better than expected, in fact.

“Because it was two of them we were expecting it to be ridiculously difficult, some of our friends were like ‘here’s a number for a nanny and a night nurse’ and stuff like that.

“But my family are all local so my mum’s here every day pretty much and there’s different family members. It’s been all right.”

Next week is set to be a big one as it sees Jason playing two dates at the Manchester Apollo to which will be filmed for his first ever DVD to be released in time for that lucrative Christmas run-in.

The 28-year-old first played the venue last October during the Manchester Comedy Festival, a big deal for the lad who grew up in Whalley Range and went to school at Oakwood High in Chorlton.

Apollo

“It was amazing really because it’s my (local) Apollo, I’ve been so many times to see other people so just to be there and do it, it was amazing.

“That night I was so nervous about it then I felt this good will of people going ‘ah this is going to be good.’

“You can feel that sort of positivity and once you get that, off you go.”

And beyond those Apollo dates stretches out the remainder of the tour and a new series of the topical stats quiz show on Channel 4, 8 Out of 10 Cats, on which Jason is a team captain.

“It’ll be tough when 8 Out of 10 Cats starts again and I’ll be away from home. That was quite hard last autumn because I was filming on the Wednesday then touring Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday and that was for about 15 weeks or something. I don’t know how I found time to make a baby to be honest. I was shattered!” He chortles.

So it might be a little while before the Manford family are hearing the pitter patter of little feet again.for a second time around then…

Jason Manford plays the Apollo on Wednesday, September 23 and Thursday, September 24. £15. Call 0161 273 6921.