Michelle Henderson saw Jason Manford’s Muddle Class show at Eden Court in Inverness.
For some people, finding your rightful place in today’s society can be a challenge – but for comedian Jason Manford, his future lies firmly at the centre of the comedy circuit.
Taking to the stage for the first of two performances of his ‘Muddle Class’ show at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness last night, the Salford-born comedian had only one objective on his mind – to help the packed crowd of more than 900 people escape from the worries of everyday life and get them laughing.
From the moment he walked out onto the stage, the audience were entranced by his every word and were rewarded in kind with a show-stopping comedy routine it will be hard to forget.
Before Manford even reached the stage, Glasgow comedian Gary Meikle did a tremendous job in warming up the crowd, sharing the hilarious trials and tribulations of single parenting and becoming a grandfather by 40.
During his 30-minute routine, he spoke fondly of his daughter Ainsley and her teenage years as well as relating back to his former days in school battling dyslexia; which on one occasion left him dressed as a prostitute instead of a member of the prosecution.
Taking to the stage shortly after 8pm, Manford began the show by giving a rough schedule and finishing time.
As he found his rhythm, his jokes centered around the events which occurred during a speed awareness course in Manchester, including his hilarious attempts at conveying an authentic Scottish accent, and his personal fitness goals in preparation for the tour; which seemed to consist of “three packets of Jaffa Cakes in front of Netflix”.
As the jokes kept coming, it became evident that for the father-of-five his children remained very much at the core of last night’s performance.
Growing up on a council estate, but now raising his children in affluent Stockport, he says he has found himself at a crossroads in terms of his social class; leading him to create what he describes as the ‘Muddle Class’.
Describing the conflicting emotions that come from “eating olives while watching Jeremy Kyle”.
As the curtain came down on what can only be described as a night full of rich comedy, Manford chose to end his show on a more serious aspect, raising awareness of mental health, anxiety and depression and the importance of speaking out about your struggles. He said: “If I can tell a room full of people I have only just met, you can tell someone you love.”
The whole performance was a true masterclass of his craft and left audience members howling with laughter.