JASON Manford revelled in front of his home crowd in Manchester on Saturday.

It was the second of two homecoming gigs for the likeable comedian, who looked completely at ease in front of 8,000 fans at the Manchester Arena.

The show — First World Problems — is a nod towards the online phenomenon of sharing those gripes we all have which pale into insignificance when compared to troubles experienced on a daily basis by those less fortunate.

The one that really seemed to strike a chord with the Manchester crowd was that feeling of getting home from a night out, tired, and grumpy, with work the next day, only to find that you have not made the bed. The mock horror with which Manford acts out this scene is priceless.

He was at his most interesting when talking about his recent gigs in Afghanistan.

“For the troops?” asked his mum when he told her he was flying out to the danger zone.

Not one to miss the chance to have some fun, Manford told her: “No, mum, for the Taliban. They love me out there. I’m like their Norman Wisdom.”

There is a lot in there about his children — parents will love the show — and also snippets from his brief stint on the One Show, which again proved as fascinating as it was funny.

He ended, as some comics like to do it seems these days, with a song — Tom Jones’s “I Who Have Nothing”. I’m not a fan of this, but Manford has a stunning voice, honed most recently in a West End production of Sweeney Todd, alongside Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton, so I will forgive the showbiz finale.

• Jason Manford performs First World Problems at King George’s Hall, Blackburn, on January 11.

www.jasonmanford.com