TOP comedian Jason Manford admitted he was both surprised and delighted to pick up the award for the best performance at East Lancashire’s biggest comedy festival.

Jason topped the poll of judges and viewers alike for his show at the You Must Be Joking Comedy Festival in November and this week took time out from a 120-date UK tour to received the Lancashire Telegraph-sponsored award.

He said: “It is so nice to see that your show has gone down so well with the public.

"The show at the festival was one of those nights when the audience seemed really up for it and it was something special for me too.”

Jason follows in the footsteps of Jimmy Carr, who picked up the inaugural award.

Already plans are well underway for this year’s You Must Be Joking Festival which will run from Friday, November 6 to Sunday, November 22.

Already lined up are top names including Jimmy Carr, Russell Brand. John Bishop and Ed Byrne and tickets will be going on sale shortly.

Mancunian Jason, who last week was a guest of Jonathan Ross on BBC1, was full of praise for the festival.

“It is great for the area that the festival has become so successful in such a short time,” he said.

“Remember even Edinburgh had to start small and now look at it.”