Currently coming towards the end of a whopping 180-date tour that has taken the 33-year-old British funnyman to every corner of the UK and Europe, Manford’s two gig stop-over in Dubai will be a special occasion for him, he says.
“It’s a bit of the tour I’ve been doing for the last 10 months, but obviously there will be local references in there because there’s part of the tour which won’t work for the audience out there.
“I’ve been to Dubai a few times before on work and on holiday. So there’ll be reference points in there where the audience will hopefully think ‘he knows what he’s talking about’.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a very unique place. There’s nowhere like it on earth; that’s not a 100 per cent compliment. But it’s different. And you can take that any way you like!” he says.
The lifelong Manchester City fan explained his First World Problems tour — parts of which will feature in the Dubai set — is centred on tongue-in-cheek gibes at the blasé attitude people in privileged countries adopt about really inconsequential hindrances. It’s a concept sure to resonate with the stereotyped luxury lifestyle Dubai-based expats enjoy.
No agenda
“I’ve found that the title really resonates with people, especially the younger generation. It’s basically a response to the little niggles we have that wouldn’t even be considered ‘problems’ in poorer areas of the world.
“It’s not going to start a revolution. There’s no socialist agenda. I just think it’s interesting to hear what we moan about when you think about it. Compared with all the terrible stuff that happens in the world, you’re just sat at home going ‘I’m annoyed because someone just put a wet spoon back in the cupboard.’”
Manford’s return to Dubai is part of the 18th anniversary of the Comedy Club, where he performed on the circuit while making his name less than a decade ago. But he does feel slightly guilty that he’s not stopping off in Abu Dhabi to perform, given his cherished Manchester City’s affinity with the UAE’s capital.
“I feel a little bit bad that I’m not playing Abu Dhabi to be honest. I feel like I’ve let them down a bit there,” he jokes.
Beyond comedy
Having started out as a fill-in for an AWOL comedy act at his local watering hole — where he was a 17-year-old glass collector at the time — Manford has now honed a peerless, charming observational story-telling style coloured by his upbringing in Manchester.
Manford, who cites fellow Northern English comic Peter Kay as his greatest comedy influence, says never mind media reviews, his biggest critic is his own mum.
“I’d like to say I’m my biggest critic, but it’s definitely my mum. She thinks Michael McIntyre is funnier: there’s nothing I can do about that,” he says.
Today, he is considered not only one of Britain’s, but one of the world’s leading names in comedy. His star status has allowed his reach to extend well beyond the stage. He’s fronted an array of primetime TV shows in the UK and even performed in the Sweeney Todd musical in London’s West End.
And earlier this year, Manford became an unofficial spokesperson for Stephen Sutton, a British teenager diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2010, who turned into a national symbol of hope.
Sutton drew up a bucket list which included raising £10,000 (Dh62,230) for Teenage Cancer Trust. After hearing of Sutton’s philosophy that life should be measured by achievements, not time, Manford visited the teenager in hospital and took to social media to launch the #thumbsupforstephen campaign, asking people to share selfies to promote Stephen’s cause.
The campaign eventually raised over £3 million and Manford described the experience as “terribly sad” but “one of the most life-affirming things he’s ever been a part of.”