Jason Manford named new co-host of The One Show
As predicted by British Comedy Guide last week, stand-up comedian and regular TV comedy show panellist Jason Manford has now been announced as the new co-host of The One Show. The comedian has won the job to co-present BBC One's flagship nightly live topical magazine-style television programme alongside Christine Bleakley, from Monday to Thursday. Chris Evans will co-present the show on a Friday.
Lancashire-born Jason, 29, who is renowned for his cheeky observational humour and friendly approach, says: "I am thrilled to be part of The One Show team. My Dad put £10 at 500/1 that I'd get the job so it just made sense."
The news has just officially broke, with the comedian saying on Twitter: "Just saw 'Breaking News' and my name on the BBC site and thought I must've died or sommat!"
It's Jason's birthday today, and he has also just announced via the social networking website that his wife is pregnant again. He Tweeted: "Not sure it deserves 'Breaking News' tag! But it should be a bit of fun. In other news, I'm going to be a Dad again! Good birthday this!"
Controller of BBC One Jay Hunt says: "Jason looked instantly at home on The One Show sofa. His intelligence and humour strike just the right tone for the programme and he is an exciting addition to the team."
Manford was one of six people to screen-test for the job recently been vacated by Adrian Chiles; with the other contenders being Matt Allwright, Matt Baker, Nick Hancock, Austin Healey and Matt Smith.
The Manchester-based comedian has recently been looking for accommodation in London, and last Wednesday he mentioned on Twitter he had been offered "the deal of my life" - although didn't at the time confirm it was The One Show job.
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.
Now Manford has been 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 can continue his role on 8 Out Of 10 Cats and whether he would be allowed to present a series of Comedy Rocks for ITV, but it is thought quite likely he will have to drop out of these shows.
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.
In other news, Jason was recently announced as a team captain on a forthcoming new comedy show called Odd One In, which will be filmed this week in the evenings.