JASON Manford’s Comedy Clubs will be coming to Bridgwater Arts Centre in January. And here’s a message from Jason Manford to tell you all about it!

‘Hello there, Jason here, thanks for stopping by.

I’ve been wondering for a while now, why is local stand-up comedy not high up on the list of what people think about doing when looking for a great night out?

So where do we go? The local pub for a few drinks? Cinema? Or maybe a meal with a loved one or a cheeky midweek quiz with some mates (where said mates nip to the loo every few minutes for a pretend wee to google who played the lead in ‘Rumpole of the Bailey’*)?

Some people still go out clubbing at one of those city centre discotheques! (shudders!).

Even ten-pin bowling is considered higher up than comedy!

How can that be? How can rolling a rock at ten wooden things be more fun than sitting in a dark room with your friends or partner, drink in hand, watching someone funny tell jokes that make you all laugh from your belly for hours and hours and give you something to talk about all the next day? That seems crazy to me.

It’s my theory that if you’ve seen a comedian on the telly and liked them, you’ll buy tickets because you know you’re in for a guaranteed night of laughter. People certainly came to see me on tour (thank you for that).

They go to see John Bishop or Sarah Millican or Micky Flanagan, and they have a good time.

It’s money well spent – but it’s not a weekly occurrence.

When it comes to your local, affordable comedy club, the simple but all-important question is: “But how do I know they will be funny?”

Is it worth paying a tenner for a night out when there’s a chance you could end up sat in uncomfortable awkward silence as some bloke, whose mates told him he was “easily like, the funniest bloke in the office”, attempts to regale you with his tales of drunken hilarity ..?

Well let me tell you this: There is a circuit of brilliant comics in this country who haven’t been on telly for a number of reasons.

Maybe they’re up and coming, maybe they were on a late-night stand up show in the ’80s and called the host a nobhead, or maybe they just have a severe drinking problem … either way, there are funny people out there who thrive in the live arena and want to make you laugh on a regular basis, so I’m going to tell you who they are.

My plan is this: I’m going to carefully select some of my favourite comedians from the circuit and send them to you. Simple!

Entertainment at a reasonable, affordable price so you can share the evening laughing out loud with friends and family and still have enough for a taxi home.

So please support me in this venture and keep on laughing’ folks ... remember, there’s nothing like live!

*It was Leo McKern, by the way quiz fans!’