Although [BERNARD Manning] was anathema to the politically correct establishment, he remained a favourite in many clubs where what has been described as his "dodgy" material was enthusiastically lapped up.

Bernard Manning, who stuck by his Mancunian roots, was born in the Ancoats district of the city. He was of working-class Irish Catholic extraction and also claimed Jewish roots.

He sang professionally on his demobilisation, and worked with many big bands of the 1950s. Manning introduced humour into his compering, gradually moving from being a singerwho told jokes to the status of a comedian who sang.