After a hectic few years which has seen comedian Jason Manford appear regularly on TV and even in a musical on the West End stage, he has gone back to his stand-up roots and is touring with a new show around the country. He talked to What’s On ahead of this week’s Kent gigs.

Jason Manford has not run away to join the opera. Despite winning 2011 ITV talent show Born To Shine with his impressive vocals and then joining Alfie Boe on tour and starring in the West End production of Sweeney Todd, Jason has not forgotten his stand-up roots.

He is back on the road with his first new show for three years, First World Problems

Jason says: “Some might think I’ve had a career change, what with all the opera and musical theatre I’ve been doing lately. Not a chance. I’m excited to be getting back to what I really love the most – stand-up!”

Jason, a regular on numerous TV shows, cannot contain his excitement about returning to live comedy.

An observational comic who describes his show as “essentially moaning about everyday life, but with punchlines” says the buzz you get from live comedy is unrivalled.

“When it goes right, there is nothing better. It creates a communal feeling that you just can’t beat. You get all these people laughing and you think, ‘I did that!’ If you make one person laugh in a day, that’s great. Imagine multiplying that by 10,000!”

Jason underlines that stand-up remains his overwhelming passion.

“TV is simpler. You can do re-takes. But you’re not getting an immediate response. You don’t know if something is funny until weeks later. Overall TV is much, much easier. A lot of the time it’s just professional reading. It’s reading while trying to make it look like you’re not reading.”

Stand-up, on the other hand, is much more demanding he says.

“On stage, you’re everything,” he says. “You’re the boss. You’re the performer, writer, editor, director. You decide what to say. It’s brilliant.”

Explaining the title of his new show, First World Problems, he says: “I’d seen the phrase online and liked it. It just emphasises those times when we moan about the most trivial things. I imagine someone in the Third World just thinking that we were all complete idiots!”

Jason reveals that his material is constantly evolving.

He says: “I only tour every couple of years and the good thing is that over that time your life and the people who surround you are constantly changing. Also, as you get older, you get more opinionated.”

The Salford-born comedian has a diverse fan-base, boosted by his TV appearances as team captain on six series of Channel 4’s 8 Out of 10 Cats and on shows including QI, Big Fat Quiz of the Year, League of Their Own and Would I Lie to You?

He says: “It’s really interesting to see the demographic of my audience. I get grannies, their kids and their kids. It’s great to see.

The weirdest thing is fans who remember jokes that I’ve forgotten. Sometimes I say to them, ‘I don’t remember that one. I must put it back in the act – it’s a good gag.”

Jason Manford: First World Problems will be at Tunbridge Wells’ Assembly Halls Theatre on Wednesday, July 17 and Thursday, July 18. Tickets £22.50. Call 01892 530613.