Jason Manford looks set to co-host The One Show
It is expected that stand-up comedian and regular TV comedy show panellist Jason Manford will shortly be announced as the new co-host of The One Show. Gossip is currently circulating the industry that the BBC will confirm next week that the comedian has won the job to co-present BBC One's flagship nightly live topical magazine-style television programme alongside Christine Bleakley.
Manford was one of six people to screen-test for the job which has recently been vacated by Adrian Chiles; with the other contenders being Matt Allwright, Matt Baker, Nick Hancock, Austin Healey and Matt Smith. Although the news hasn't officially been announced - there are clues to suggest that Manford will be signed up to co-present the show Monday to Thursday, with Chris Evans co-presenting with Bleakley on a Friday.
A source told The Mirror: "Jason was the only one Christine really clicked with and that bosses have decided to offer him the deal. Jason is seen by many in TV as a rising star. He has a growing number of fans and is very down to earth so he will appeal to lots of people. He's naturally funny, doesn't swear or get crude in his act, so there is no danger of him getting foul-mouthed on The One Show."
The Manchester-based comedian has recently been looking for accommodation in London, and on Wednesday he mentioned on Twitter he had been offered "the deal of my life".
He Tweeted later: "Trying to come up with a line for a press release but they're always cheesy - 'I'm really looking forward to working with the team'.", and later added: "When you see the real press release later on this week, know that my real quote was - 'I'm as surprised as everyone else I got this job'."
Jason Manford got his big TV break in 2007, when he was named as the new team captain on 8 Out Of 10 Cats. He was initially labelled as 'a Peter Kay lite', but has since grown into one of Britain's biggest stand-up stars. His other TV appearances include multiple appearances on Live At The Apollo; as a team captain on the now axed As Seen On TV; and has featured as a guest on many other panel shows too. The comedian was also one of the creators of the BBC's family-centred talking animals show, Walk On The Wild Side.
The role may be a steep learning curve for the comic, as to date Manford has only undertaken two presenting roles: he fronted Channel 4's poorly-received late night satirical comedy show Tonightly in 2008, and earlier this year hosted Comedy Rocks, a ITV pilot.
Should Manford indeed be named as the new co-host of The One Show it is likely he will have to scale back on some of his other commitments. It is not yet known whether he would continue his role on 8 Out Of 10 Cats and whether he could present a series of Comedy Rocks for ITV, but it is quite likely he would have to drop these projects.
Perhaps, more of a problem may be his stand-up commitments: he is currently on tour, with many forthcoming dates already sold out, and gig bookings already extending right into April 2011. With gigs around the country, it may be hard for the comic to be in London every Monday to Thursday in the early evening to film The One Show.
Jason Manford has also just been announced as a team captain on a forthcoming new comedy show called Odd One In, and it is not yet known whether the BBC would allow him to appear on this ITV show at the same time as his BBC presenting job.
A statement about the vacant The One Show presenting job is expected from the BBC Press Office early next week.