
Jason Manford: Show Me The Funny jokes axed
Jason Manford’s jokes were axed from Show Me The Funny due to legal reasons. The comic’s new programme – which sees 10 wannabe stand-up comedians critiqued by Kate Copstick and Alan Davies – had a ten minute monologue cut from the beginning of the show as his current crop of jokes will feature in a DVD due to be released by Universal Pictures in November.
He explained: “They edited all my bits out. It’s all very complicated.
“I’ve got a DVD coming out and I’m on tour, and a certain production company owns my sets.”
However, the 30-year-old funnyman insists he doesn’t mind seeing his jokes shelved as t provides more focus for the acts.
He added to The Sun newspaper: “I was basically the warm-up man before the proper comics.
“I could have given the whole ego thing, get the agent to ring them and say ‘Why didn’t you put some of my jokes on?’ but it’s not about me.”
Ratings for the programme slumped from 3.4 million at the beginning down to just 2.1 million by the end of the show.
The lacklustre performance was in stark contrast to BBC One’s show in the same 9pm Monday slot, crime drama ‘New Tricks’, which had 8.73 million viewers.
An insider said: “Producers will hope for a rapid improvement next week, or serious questions will be asked.”
Show Me The Funny - Jason Manford
SHOW ME THE FUNNY coming soon to ITV1 Picture Shows: Jason Manford Picture Caption: Show Me The Funny is a brand new reality series which aims to find the next big comedy talent. The comedians - a mixture of unknowns and those who have experience on the circuit - are all hoping to following in the footsteps of Michael McIntyre, Jimmy Carr and Peter Kay and become the next stand-up superstar Photographer: Nicky Johnston njohnston1@me.com

From:Set The Video: NASA: Triumph and Tragedy, BBC Two, Wednesday, 24 June, 9pm