You're never far from a Manning crowd

And with that he was gone. That was my first introduction to one of the legends of showbusiness, a man who has been both heralded as a master of the comic art and lambasted by critics of his clearly non PC approach to making people laugh.

Love him or loathe him, you just can't ignore Bernard Manning. Next week he's heading for Blackburn's North Bar where he will entertain a no doubt sold out venue in his own inimitable style.

Ten minutes after the initial call I ring back.

"Now then lad, what can I do for you?"

The voice is much softer, much gentler than you're used to hearing from the stage.

The man who can make a trip to the bar a nightmare or destroy a heckler with one quip comes across as a much deeper character than you might believe.

"Blackburn eh, it'll be like playing at home for me," he says. "I always look forward to coming to Blackburn. The first time I played there was at the old Cavendish Club, now that was a big club."

So is the big man from Manchester expecting a particularly good reception?

"I always go down well wherever I play," he says. "Last week I was in Paris playing at the International Hotel and I've just been to Torquay and they both went well. But it's always nice to play in front of good old Lancashire folk."

After over 50 years in the business what keeps Bernard Manning racking up the miles week-in, week out?

"That's simple," he says, and even over the phone you can sense a smile creasing that distinctive face. "I love the business. I may be 72 now but I'm a sprightly 72 -- I've still got all my chairs at home.

"You can't beat being up on that stage in front of a packed house and hearing them laughing."

Certainly he's a man who makes his job look easy, holding an audience with effortless ease, leading many people to forget the skill involved.

"Yes it is a skill, it's far better than all that alternative nonsense," he says contemptuously.

So, I venture, you don't have much time for alternative comedy?

"No I don't," is the replay. "Put it this way, I'm busier than I've ever been. At the end of the day if you're funny people want to see you, people will laugh - that's what I do, what I've always done."

So who does make Bernard Manning laugh?

"Don Rickles, an American comedian," is the instant reply. "He's getting on a bit now but he's still got it."

The Manning approach to humour clearly isn't to everyone's liking and certain venues refuse to book him.

"Well they're very foolish aren't they," he laughs. "There are plenty of people who want to see me, my shows sell out. You get good publicity and you get bad publicity. I do what I do and people know what they will get. I've been in the job 50 years and I think I know most of the good jokes by now.

"I can't force someone to book me and I wouldn't want to.

"I've got nothing to reproach myself for anything I've done in my career.

"Anyway," he says mid stream," what's this about the new player Blackburn Rovers have signed? He's one of the South Korean lads - Y mi.

"You can use that if you want, I've got plenty more where that comes from."

Although most people of his age may be looking to take things easy, Bernard Manning shows no signs of slowing down.

"I've had a TV crew following me for a documentary for the BBC," he says. "I just enjoy doing shows and meeting people. I've got my Rolls and my Cadillac and I'll keep going."

Even when he's not touring the country, Bernard Manning 'keeps his hand in' by playing at the venue that he most associated with The Embassy Club near his home in Middleton.

"I'm playing there on Friday," he says. "That really is playing at home. Sometimes I try out some news gags there. But I'm always confident about my material. I'm not one of those comedians who looks round the curtain looking anxiously at the audience.

"It's all there in my head, all 50 years of it.

"Anyway lad, I'm really looking forward to coming to Blackburn and seeing everyone. God Bless."

And with that he was gone again.

There's only one Bernard Manning......

I may be 72 now but I've still got all my chairs at home you know