Bernard Manning

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Bernard Manning (born August 13, 1930 in Ancoats Manchester) is a famous working class British comedian who was very popular in the 1970s.

Manning is of Irish Catholic extraction and was an altar boy, but also claims Jewish roots and to be a descendant of immigrants from Sevastopol. A sign which reads 'Shalom' adorns the front door of his north Manchester home.

Manning begain as a singer and comedian: as an effective singer of popular ballads he fronted many big bands in the 1950s, such as Oscar Rabin's.

After much work in comedy clubs in the 1950s and 1960s, Manning made his TV debut in Granada's stand-up comedy show The Comedians (1971-73, later revived). He went on to compere The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club (1974-77). Nowadays, although he still tours Britain, he tends to appear most frequently at The Embassy, the club he owns in Harpurhey, Manchester; although nowadays his son manages the club. The club is reputed to have played host to many a rising star, not least The Beatles.

His material has been criticised for being offensive or racist by commentators — often derided by Manning supporters as middle class — and he has not been on British television regularly for some years. Liberal columnist and broadcaster Mark Lawson has said that he feels uncomfortable with what he describes as an implicit ban on Manning. Manning still tours however, and draws sizable audiences. He also sells Videos and DVDs of his act through his website.

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Recent Media Appearances

Manning appeared on the spoof documentary Brass Eye. It is debatable whether he, a comic, realised that "cake", the "made-up drug", warnings against the consumption of which he and other TV personalities were pursuaded to record, was a hoax; the other celebrity participants were certainly duped. He had a cameo in the television drama, The Second Coming but it was edited out (it, and an extended stand up from him feature on the DVD's deleted scenes.)

Manning has also appeared in genuine documentaries about alternative comedy and variety. In 2004, he visited India and performed in two shows for a Channel 4 documentary. The first show went reasonably well, although during the second show he walked off during the performance after an indifferent audience response, blaming a faulty microphone.

In 1998, he appeared as a guest on Caroline Aherne's spoof guest show The Mrs Merton Show. He declared himself as a racist, and referred to "pakis". He got into a heated argument with Richard Wilson. The Broadcasting Standards Commission upheld twelve complaints over the show. [1] [2]

In 2003 Manning's agent accepted a booking from the BNP for an event in Burnley [3], although Manning did not appear[4], having asserted that career-wise he would be "fucking barmy" to do so.

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