JASON MANFORD who will star in a brand new UK Tour of The Producers has told the Daily Echo he is “thrilled” by this exciting new venture.

Based on Mel Brooks’ Academy Award winning movie, The Producers is a hilarious musical comedy that has taken Broadway and the West End by storm and will now visit Southampton Mayflower next year.

Jason, who will take on the role of downtrodden accountant Leo Bloom in his first ever musical theatre UK tour, said: “It is absolutely my favourite musical; because it’s written by a comedian and played by a comedian it appeals.

"It’s got the big numbers and set pieces and it’s exciting to do those big numbers with an ensemble and dancing girls but also it’s ironic and funny and silly in parts.”

The entertainer, who hails from Salford, Lancashire, is a stand-up comedian, writer, actor, radio and television presenter.

His wide experience spans from a critically acclaimed West End role in Sweeney Todd, alongside Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, to award-winning stand-up comedy shows across the country.

He shot to stardom in 2007 as team captain on C4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats, since then he has hosted prime time television shows including Sunday Night at the Palladium, BBC1’s A Question of Sport: Super Saturday and The Royal Variety Performance.

Jason was the winner of ITV1’s Born to Shine and will star in BBC TV’s forthcoming drama Ordinary Lies.

But whilst his family has a background in the business he never imagined he would become a success.

“My family was always into entertainment.

"My gran was the lead singer of an Irish folk band so it was always around me: I’m not from a long line of doctors!

"And I’ve been doing this for so long – I’ve been a comedian longer than I wasn’t a comedian.

"But I certainly never thought it would come to this! I thought I might earn £15 for the odd gig!”

Indeed, Jason’s first ever gig happened by chance.

It was in 1999, while working at the Buzz Comedy Club in Chorlton, Manchester.

Jason was collecting glasses when a performer didn’t arrive for an evening set. Jason, who was 17, stepped in to fill the gap, an event which marked the beginning of his comedy career.

Six gigs later he was crowned The City Life North West Comedian of the Year.

“It was just a pub near our house in Manchester that just happened to have a comedy night: it’s just so random that I chose to work at this pub.

"I was always in the school plays and presented things so it was always something I was interested in: I enjoyed showing off.”

Jason did then study Media and performance where he trained to sing and dance and says “It was a great across the board course”, so given the diversity in his career, what does he now consider himself to be?

“I will always be a stand-up: that’s my number one job but everything else is a bonus.

"I’m filming a drama for the BBC which is all grown up stuff but then there will be another tour in 2016!”

With his multi-faceted career mapped out two years in advance, it seems he hardly ever has time to rest and Jason admits he likes to live like that.

“If I have more than two days off I climb the wall; I just can’t do it!”

Daily Echo:

Does he find it difficult to relax?

“Yes. I’m always writing things down and thinking of gags.

"If I’m not working I’m with the kids and if I’m not with the kids, I’m working.

“If I’m by myself I get bored; I need to get out and do things.

“The children are all under five and they are quite a handful but I love it- that’s the best job. I do all sorts with them.

"I think to myself we do so much: we go to the park and play centres and for days out. I have always had to be active.

"I love sleep when I can get it but I exist on four or five hours a night- I’m like Margaret Thatcher. I get by and sometimes on tour I will catch up and sleep all day!”

Singing in the show doesn’t worry him after winning ITV1’s Born to Shine reality TV show.

Reflecting on that he said: “I knew I could sing but the challenge came when they said I must learn how to opera sing.

"Interestingly there were no notes I couldn’t reach.

"I was singing a Pavarotti song and thought there’s no way I could do it, but because I was training so hard by the end I could get the last difficult note.

"I use to think either you can sing or you can’t but I learned it’s a muscle and I can train it.”

So is there anything that makes him nervous about performing?

“I still get nervous before gigs but then Bob Monkhouse said ‘When you stop being nervous then stop doing it’.

I think nerves show you care and want to be good. Nerves don’t stop you- you can use them productively.”

“I’m really looking forward to getting stuck into the dance which I’ve never had chance to do, and the songs are brilliant and just getting laughs for the jokes I didn’t write , because I’ve never done that before.

“There will be no ad-libbing...but then you never know! I’m looking forward to the discipline of it and being on stage with other people.

“It can be a bit lonely on tour. I travel so much and I just sit in the back of cars and on trains.

“I’ve been touring with the latest stand-up show now since last April: I’ve done 280 dates and it’s now coming to an end, so 20 weeks touring with The Producers will be a breeze!