JASON Manford has what they call the likeability factor, but it’s not always a blessing. “I’m the same on stage as I am in real life, which can be incredibly annoying at home!” he smiles. “Jimmy Carr says that because he’s quite rude on stage, if he says ‘hello’ to a fan in the street that will make their day.

“By contrast, because I’m nice on stage, unless I ask a fan if they fancy a brew, they’ll say, ‘He’s a bit rude’. I’m a victim of my own niceness. Sometimes I wish I’d gone down the Jack Dee misery route.”

The popular comic, who is bringing his tour First World Problems to Bradford next month, describes his show as “essentially moaning about everyday life, but with punchlines”.

He will be inviting the audience to share their own First World Problems.

“I’m really enjoying this show. I have fun with the audience, it’s very friendly and relaxed. Audiences have been fantastic,” says Jason.

His likeable charm and teasing wit has won him an army of fans since he shot to fame as team captain on Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats in 2007. Stand-up sets on shows such as Live at the Apollo, Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow and The Royal Variety Performance have all estab-lished Jason as a household name.

Stepping out from comedy, he showcased surprise opera singing talents in ITV talent show Born to Shine, which he won, then joined Alfie Boe on tour and later enjoyed a run in West End musical Sweeney Todd, alongside Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton. Earlier this year he appeared in Not Like This, Like That, a drama about Tommy Cooper, and hosted A Question of Sport: Super Saturday in the summer.

“People who haven’t done stand-up focus on the negatives –‘what’s it like to die on stage?’ I always say: ‘It’s horrendous, the worst feeling in the world’. But the lows are so low because the highs are so high,” says the father-of-three. “It’s a huge risk but when it goes right there’s nothing better. It creates a communal feeling that you just can’t beat.

“Overall TV is much easier – a lot of the time it’s just professional reading. But you’re not getting an immediate response. You don’t know if something is funny till weeks later.

“On stage, you’re everything. You’re the boss – the performer, writer, editor, director. You decide what to say. It’s brilliant.”

Jason Manford is at St George’s Hall on Sunday, November 16. Ring (01274) 432000.