Paddy McGuinness booted Jason Manford off comedy tour for being 'a bit too funny'

There's no hard feelings, though.

Dan Seddon
·2 min read
LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 12: (EDITORS NOTE: This image has been retouched.) Alesha Dixon and Jason Manford will present The National Lottery's Big Bash on 6th December. (Photo by Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery)
Jason Manford at The National Lottery's Big Bash. (Jeff Spicer/Getty Images for The National Lottery)
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Jason Manford claims Paddy McGuinness got rid of him on tour because he was stealing all of the laughs.

Back in 2006, when the future Take Me Out presenter had just booked his first-ever comedy tour, funnyman Manford (who became an 8 Out of 10 Cats team captain a year later) was his choice for warming up the crowds.

"I was a club comic at the time, earning £70 a night in the early noughties and I got this phone call asking if I wanted to support Paddy McGuinness on tour doing proper theatres," he revealed to MailOnline.

Read more: Paddy McGuinness announces stand-up tour - how to get tickets

"I was told: 'You'll be done by 8.15pm and it's £100 a show', so I was like 'yes I will'. I snapped their hand off. It certainly beats performing at Leicester Jongleurs and having beer bottles thrown at me."

Signing up for around 80 dates, Manford planned to put a deposit down on a flat in Manchester with his earnings.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - MARCH 18: Paddy Mcguinness during the Red Nose Day night of TV for Comic Relief on March 18, 2022 in Manchester, England. Live from MediaCityUk in Salford on BBC One and iPlayer. (Photo by Nicky Johnston/Comic Relief via Getty Images)
Paddy McGuinness allegedly sacked Manford for being "too funny". (Nicky Johnston/Comic Relief via Getty Images)

"Around six or seven gigs in I thought I was doing really well as I was 'club ready', my act was really polished, but I then got a call from the tour manager and he said to me 'they've decided to go in a different direction for support. I think you're a bit too funny,'" he went on to add.

"Paddy was new to stand-up and because I was a bit similar to Peter Kay, who was my hero, I suppose the audience that were coming off the back of Phoenix Nights were kind of my people who laugh at the same things as me.

"So I ended up getting sacked as Paddy's tour support, even though one night I did longer than him on stage!"

Read more: Paddy McGuinness reveals how he copes with abuse from trolls on social media

Despite this awkward turn of events, there's no acrimony from Manford's side.

Following the news of McGuinness' 2024/25 stand-up return, he allegedly contacted the star with this note: "If you're looking for tour support, I know a decent comic."

McGuinness knowingly replied: "Do pass on his details."

Watch: Paddy McGuinness says his 'money has run out' as he discusses return to stand-up comedy