Jason Manford: Jason Manford Live DVD & BluRay

Review by Bernard O'Leary | 18 Nov 2011

It's been a year since an internet sex scandal engulfed Jason Manford's career. After his shock admission of having once seen boobs on the web, Manford was ejected from the BBC for fear that he might inspire a frenzy of tea-time caranal depravity amongst One Show viewers. So what sick perversions await in this live show? Will he give himself a happy finish during the encore? Or ask the enormous crowd to join him in staging Britain's largest-ever bukkake movie?

Er, no. Apart from a couple of asides about not having the internet in his house any more, Jason Manford Live makes no reference to last year's events and gives a rather conservative standup show. The vast stadium crowd listen to him run through the familiar tropes of comedy: kids, parenthood, his crafty dad, his gormless brother. To give him credit, Manford is better at this type of comedy than almost anyone else. Not since Billy Connolly has someone been so good at making an arena gig feel intimate, and his everybloke persona is a lot more platable Michael McIntyre's hysterics.

It's the comedic equivalent of a Gregg's Steak Bake: stodgy and unimaginative, but totally enjoyable. A perfect Christmas present for most people's dads; sex fiends looking for a kindred spirit may want to search elsewhere.

Jason Manford: Live is DVD & BluRay from November 14th. RRP £19.99/£24.99