Review: Jason Manford, Theatre Severn, Shrewsbury

Last night's performance marked the start of almost 12 months on the road for the likeable northern comedian, who is making a return to stand-up with his First World Problems tour after a two-year hiatus from the mic.

Earlier in the day the former host of The One Show had appeared on ITV's Loose Women alongside his protégé, Britain's Got Talent runner-up Jack Carroll. And Manford, 32, received some good-natured ribbing from the crowd after seemingly coming out in the same shirt for the gig as he had worn earlier on TV.

As the title of the tour suggests, the show is loosely based around the little things that really wind people up.

For Manford, and lots of others judging by the reaction, the number one 'First World Problem' is returning home from a night at the pub and walking into the bedroom before realising you had stripped the bed that morning.

Biting into a scotch egg and finding no egg, and being asked for customer numbers by over-zealous utility firm phone operators also registered highly.

Manford closed the first half by asking the crowd to jot their own down on pieces of paper left on the stage.

Buying small chunk Branston Pickle by mistake, realising you have run out of toilet paper and sun glare on an iPhone screen all made the cut as the comic ran through a selection to open the second half.

The gig also featured plenty of audience interaction and topics ranging from football to teachers and the antics of his three children.

With no support, it was well worth the ticket price as he crammed in two hours worth of material before returning for a ten-minute encore. An enjoyable and entertaining night.

Manford is performing three other dates in the county as part of the tour for anyone who missed last night.

The Manchester City fan is back at Theatre Severn for a two-night stint on February 18 and 19 next year, and is also due to appear at Oakengates Theatre in Telford on March 31.

By Wayne Beese