“I don’t really swear a lot or do anything really vulgar or offensive, it’s all about just having a bit of a laugh.”

Jason’s stand-up career began almost by accident. He took to the stage of a club, where he worked in the kitchen, when one of the acts didn’t show up.

Success came relatively quickly, and he won awards, including North West Comedian of the Year, while his act was still really in its embryonic stages.

Expanding those first five minutes of killer material into a longer set proved problematic for the comic, and he took time out to complete a degree in media and performance at Salford University: “I took it seriously from then on,” he says.

“I had to do this like a job. I had to get up in the morning, go through the papers and the internet and stuff, and write all day and ring people.”

Now, however, it’s hard to get him off the stage when he’s having a good time.

“I do have a chat with people. People in the North West are more interactive than anywhere else in the country, to put it nicely.

“As long as it doesn’t start getting silly or annoy people. I did three hours in Blackburn the other week, I was really Ken Dodding it up.

“I just stay on there for as long as I enjoy it. Although I can sense if people are clock watching or panicking, so I give a disclaimer – ‘if you need to go, I won’t be offended!’”

He is now best known for his work on panel show 8 Out of 10 Cats, alongside host Jimmy Carr and Sean Lock.

“I first went on as a guest, it went really well. I was on Dave Spikey’s team. Then I had Dave killed and they asked me to be captain.

“I didn’t have Dave killed,” he clarifies, bashfully. “He decided to knock it on the head and they asked me to take over.

“It’s a right laugh and I think I can’t believe it’s my job to have a mess about.

“I think we work well as a trio because we’re different enough to complement each other.

“Jimmy has got a joke about everything, he’s phenomenal. Sean, although he’s based in reality, does get a little bit surreal and I’m all the way in reality with anecdotes and observations.”

The team, who have just wrapped the latest series, are waiting to see if the show gets recommissioned, although hopes are high. They celebrated with a party, the night before Jason spoke to Box Office.

“We did some karaoke,” he reveals, mid-yawn.

“And, at the end of the night, Sean gave me a hug and said he really enjoyed this series. I nearly had a little cry! I was like a little abused cat who’d never been shown any love.”

JASON MANFORD plays the Royal Court next Thursday. The show is sold out, but he returns to the region on January 21 for a show at Warrington Parr Hall and Pyramid.

vickyanderson