Bernard Manning

Bernard Manning was to say the least a very rude, very funny comedian. His jokes were blue and he would pick a target from the audience and that would be it, you either laughed or got out. I had the pleasure of seeing him once on stage and laughed until I cried. He was known as a racist comedian but in reality would take the piss out of anyone regardless of race or colour. The biography below was taken from his web site http://www.bernardmanning.com/ A very much missed comedian that in these P.C. days could no longer work on TV.

BERNARD MANNING, one of the most outrageous and successful comedians of our time first established himself as a comedy star with the ever-popular Granada series, 'The Comedians' which took to British screens in the 1970's, Bernard was always the man at the top of the list when it came to outrageous comedy and entertainment. The Wheeltappers and Shunters social club came next which was a light-hearted entertainment show, Bernard often compared it during the 70's.

He began his career however some years before 'The Comedians' and 'The Wheeltappers' when he became a vocalist for the Oscar Rabin Band but this was not to last for after he showed that comedy was his first love when it came to performing, he rose to fame.

For over thirty years, Bernard wowed audiences all over the world, from London to Las Vegas and Bombay to his native city of Manchester where despite all his success, wealth and fame he lived to his death in 2007.

Bernard's releases (e.g. 'Ungagged' and 'Banging with Manning') have sold in the millions on Video and are now for the first time being released on D.V.D. (Hopefully)

Manning visited major venues around the U.K getting standing ovations for every outrageous performance, he starred in yet another summer season at the Merrie England in Blackpool which saw him at his very best. The staff and box office of the Merrie England refer to him as "the world's number 1 comedian!" as do Bernard's fans, and talking of fans, they include the likes of Madonna who asked him to perform exclusively at one of her parties in London. David and Victoria Beckham have also attended performances, one of which can be seen on Manning's latest release 'An Audience with Bernard and Friends' in which he wins a comical verbal shoot-out with them.

Manning has appeared on 'This Your Life' and starred in 'The Entertainers', a successful follow-up series and reunion of 'The Comedians' that also featured Tony Blackburn, Bernie Clifton and Bernard's friend, Frank Carson. He has also had a Video compilation of his greatest moments released to honour him which is entitled, 'Masters of Comedy: Bernard Manning'.