Manford promises old school variety

Jason Manford has promised that his new show Comedy Rocks will feature old fashioned variety.

The stand-up comic's new series, which starts on Friday, March 25, will include a "mix of music and comedy".

"The music will all be live, none of this miming palaver!" he told ITV. "And the comedy will be varied.

"Paul Zerdin, the best ventriloquist in the world - says me and my Mum - new star and good mate of mine John Bishop, who's set to have an amazing 2010, very funny. Lovely but naughty Jo Brand and to mix it up a bit, Joe Pasquale.

"I'll be having a chat with the audience and finding out how their week has been but only to find funny stories, the stuff you just can't make up. But I won't be picking on anyone who doesn't fancy a chat!"

Manford also revealed that many of his comedy heroes were "old boys" such as Cannon & Ball, Jimmy Tarbuck and Mick Miller. "That's the comedy I enjoyed as a boy with my family," he said.