Jason Manford

Comedian Jason Manford was born in a poverty-stricken section of Manchester, England, with an Irish-Catholic heritage. At the young age of 17 in 1999, he found himself working at the Buzz Comedy Club, and on one occasion a twist of fate sent him reeling head-first into the world of comedy: When a comic failed to arrive for his set, Manford stepped in and stole the show. Inspired by family-oriented comedians like Dave Allen and Peter Kay, Manford continued to pursue his craft on a professional level, making his television breakthrough in 2007 as a guest on "8 out of 10 Cats," a panel comedy show aired on Channel 4. He would later appear in 28 episodes as the show's Team Captain. Manford's career exploded in the late 2000s, evidenced by his plethora of TV stand-up appearances and forays into scripted shows. He appeared on specials like "The World Stands Up" and "Edinburgh and Beyond," but found a new outlet for his humor when he signed on as host of the 2008 Channel 4 talk show "Tonightly," which blended comedic commentary and news satire with loose-limbed silliness. Realizing there is more to life than just laughs, Manford has been an active presence in charities such as Comic Relief and Manchester Children's Hospital.