English stand-up comedian Jason Manford to tickle Dubai

Jason Mansford tells Saeed Saeed he is more an entertainer than a comic.

The British presenter, comedian and entertainer Jason Manford will perform in Dubai tonight and tomorrow. Courtesy Nick Harrison

Jason Manford seems to be everywhere.

If he is not touring, then he’s appearing on DVD specials, hosting radio programmes or, in his latest career step, fronting a new television variety show.

The 33-year-old comic from Stockport speaks to us after finishing a day's worth of interviews in the United Kingdom promoting his latest screen venture, A Question of Sport: Super Saturday, the debut episode of which debuted on the UK's BBC One yesterday.

Manford was not home to watch – he is in Dubai preparing for the first of two performances at the Crowne Plaza Hotel tonight.

He says his latest move to television won’t affect his standup comedy career.

“When I first started, you would do your live work so you can get on telly and stay there like Graham Norton,” he states. “It’s the opposite now. These days it’s the other way around. You do telly so people can come and see you live. So if they enjoyed that little bit, they can come see me when I roll into their town.”

Manford has been consistently packing in UK theatres, joining the likes of John Bishop and Michael McIntyre as one of the country’s leading comics.

Inspired by his comic heroes Billy Connolly, Peter Kay and Eddie Izzard, Manford quit his pub job at the age of 17 to study media and performance, a move that eventually led to a series of small-time television roles and radio work.

Manford says stage training was essential to his career, and views himself as more an “entertainer” than an comic.

“Some people are like ‘Yes, I am a comedian.’ But I am not like that. I do a bit of comedy, perhaps sing a few songs and basically whatever it takes to keep people entertained,” he says. “That said, I absolutely love stand-up comedy.”

Manford’s material is unashamedly autobiographical, with witty takes on his youth, a young marriage and being a father.

The flip-side of such an approach is that humorous insights can take a while to craft.

“This is the reason why I just can’t tour all the time, because I have to wait for things to happen. I have to put pressure on my kids and say: ‘Come on, do something funny now or you won’t go on any holidays next year,’” he says. “But I do also go looking for things. I don’t totally sit around waiting for two hours for stuff to occur to me.”

Manford says he would rather be at home supporting England’s World Cup campaign than be away on tour.

“I haven’t thought this through at all,” he says with a laugh. “I hope that after the show we can all go and watch the match together.”

• Jason Manford performs tonight and tomorrow at Dubai’s Crowne Plaza Hotel on Sheikh Zayed Road at 8.30pm. Tickets cost from Dh300 at www.timeouttickets.com.