RIP Bernard Manning

A very funny comedian has died.

Reading the comments on the BBC website (hardly a hot bed of reactionary fervour) it is good to be reminded that many in Britain do not share the (mainly Southern) sensitivities of the chattering classes. Mr. Manning could be offensive but his humour was at the expense of many, regardless of background. He was someone that had "integrity" in the real sense of the world and lived his life uncrippled by the liberal taleban who enforce political correctness on the majority.

RIP Bernard.


Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:44 GMT 22:44 UK
Rip Bernard you were a very funny man who wasn't afraid to tell jokes on any subject good on you God bless you.
Lee Kimberley, Bradford
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:42 GMT 22:42 UK
It is with sadness i learn of bernard's death he was a unique individual who can never be replaced in this time of political correctness. what sad time times we live in. Hewould use humour to articulate what the majority ordinary people were thinking.The almighty does know what he going to let himself in for now that Bernard has arrived.
james chespy, gillingham
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:39 GMT 22:39 UK
I saw Bernard Manning almost exactly 25 years ago in Cardiff, the Falklands war was raging and he pointed out 2 men in the front row and said to the rest of the audience, "look, here's 2 brave lads, just back from the Falklands" we all cheered and clapped in patriotic delight and Bernard then said "I don't know why you're cheering they're Argentinian b******s!"It was a great night and I'm grateful to Bernard Manning for that. It's a shame that political correctness was such a blight on his career
Phillip Middleton, Cardiff
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:38 GMT 22:38 UK
Bernard sure did polarise opinion. Even in my group of close friends of 25 years there's a marked divide. But all I can say is that I adored him. He was immensely funny, quite blatantly talented & I believe a genuine & likeable chap. I will really miss him not being around. RIP Bernard, I'll raise a pint to you at the first opportunity, my friend.
Keith Owen, Royal Leamington Spa
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:37 GMT 22:37 UK
Sorry to hear of the death of Bernard Manning.Saw him in Belfast some years ago, and thought he was terrific - a very very funny man.He took the p**s out of lots of people , including the Irish, but I could never take offence.Probably the funniest of all the stand-ups of his era.Doug
Dougal, Belfast
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:34 GMT 22:34 UK
My honest opinion? He was the funniest comedians EVER. Just couldn't help laughing out loud whenever I heard him. He just made fun of everybody, no holds barred.Best wishes to his family.
Wendy Simpson, Bournemouth, United Kingdom
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:31 GMT 22:31 UK
So sad, a genuinly funny man leaves us. The problem was, he just wasn't allowed to be what he was....a normal working class man making real honest people laugh. Comedy is needed to make this awful world a little bit easier to live in. When you are basically told what's allowed to be funny, it doesn't seem that amusing anymore. Bernard said what he felt and it was true and funny. It's the end of an era, apparently it's funny to hear graham norton say 'I like a big one.....etc' what a sad world we now live in. R.I.P. XXX
Kevin King
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:29 GMT 22:29 UK
Had tickets to see Bernard a week last Friday in Darwen, Lancs. Not seen the big man for eight years and was so looking forward to it. The gig was only cancelled on the day due to ill health. I worried then that I'd left it too late to see the genius for one last time. Anyone who calls him racist has never seen his show. I had even bought one such narrow minded individual a ticket for the show in Darwen to convert him. Bernard didn't just pick on ethnic groups, he picked on everyone. God bless to Bernard Jnr and the rest of the family. A truly great man who did so much for charity. He will be so sorely missed.
Dave, Bolton
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:20 GMT 22:20 UK
As a fellow Mancunian i will sorely miss Bernard Manning, He said it like it is and i admire him all the more for it. A gentle guy and a comic genius, rest in piece Bernard, manchester will not be the same without you .
andrew, manchester
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 21:18 GMT 22:18 UK
a legend!
craigw, lincoln
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 20:59 GMT 21:59 UK
Bernard seemed gentle and kind but at the same time brave, bringing humour out from the repressed, hidden and not very PC thoughts of many, many people. He would say the things many other people simply wouldn't and for that reason should be respected. Will miss the big guy.
Steve Freestone, Lincolnshire
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 20:57 GMT 21:57 UK
A true legend of comedy, Bernard will be sadly missed and must go down of one of the finest stand up comedians of all time. RIP Bernard.
Steve C, Newark
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 20:57 GMT 21:57 UK
Good memories of frequenting the Embassy Club during my youth with all the mates. Learned very quickly that not sitting near the front would ensure an evening of outrageous humour, what a funny guy. Forget the racism comments, if you couldn't take it you didn't go (or at least sit near the front!!). Once saw him interrupt a singer on his stage, he told everyone to shut up and listen then handed the mike back to her. Great club and a decent person.
Kevin, Sydney, Australia
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 20:57 GMT 21:57 UK
He was the best. Occasional questionable material aside, he was quite simply the funniest of all the great stand-ups. Impeccable timing, superb delivery and a real belief in the power of humour. He will be missed because there's no-one else like him - except, maybe, for the great Peter kay.
Paul, Nottingham
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Added: Monday, 18 June, 2007, 20:56 GMT 21:56 UK
He was of his time. It's very easy to look back and be critical of what was, at the time, quite acceptable. Some of his material is now generally agreed to be offensive and defines the dominant view of his career. He may have been the one on stage saying it, but there were many more in the audience laughing at it. Public attitudes have changed and we now view him as racist and offensive. We look back on that time and put the blame on him for our collective bigotry. Manning was never given a chance to change. Had we not been so quick to condemn and put him on the defensive, his legacy may have been very different.We should stop looking for scapegoats and face the real problem.
Jon, Ascot
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