COMEDIAN Jason Manford has revealed how his parents struggled to heat their home and put food on the table when he was a child.
The star – who is best known for appearing on 8 Out of 10 Cats since 2005 – opened up about relying on charity to get through their daily routine, including having access to school uniforms.
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Jason, 41, opened up about having an “underprivileged childhood”, thanking his parents for doing a “great job” despite their hardship.
The star revealed that before his big comedy break in 2007 in sitcom Ideal, he picked up odd jobs to help give back to his parents.
He said: “I only realised I had an underprivileged childhood later on in life. At the time you don’t know, do you? You have nothing to compare it to.
“My parents did a great job of bringing us all up, and there was a lot of laughter in the house, but we had charities help us out sometimes.
“The Lord Mayor’s Fund helped us with school uniforms, our only holiday in my childhood was paid for by the same charity.”
Looking back fondly, Jason added: “We got by with the kindness of family and friends and neighbours.
“All the kids were out together hanging around, playing games, messing around. We were just there for each other.”
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Jason’s experience has led him to give back with charity work, and this week served up porridge alongside organisation Groundwork at a local warm hub in Stockport.
The star has partnered with Quaker Oats for its Share the Warmth campaign, encouraging others to donate to those in need.
It comes after Jason revealed his heartache after his 99-year-old nan was rushed to hospital and stopped eating.
Jason shared a sweet photo alongside his nan from her hospital bed and said he and his family were “staying strong”.
“Unfortunately she’s still in the hospital,” he told his followers in an emotional update.
“Everyone is doing everything they can to get her home but she’s just stopped eating (even when given a box of her favourite chocolates for Mother’s Day!).
“Not sure why, she says she wants to come home, knows that eating will help this, but for whatever reason, maybe her dementia, she just won’t eat.”
He also posted a photo with his family gathered around her bedside.
Jason added: “It’s heartbreaking if I’m honest, especially to see my dad upset.
“But we’re staying strong as a family, lots of laughs and spent more time than was necessary rubbing hand cream into those 99-year-old hands…thanks again for all your kindness in messages.”
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