Jason Manford has bowed out of his long-running Absolute Radio Sunday morning show after eight years, telling fans that a recent health scare forced him to rethink his pace of life.
The comedian, 44, signed off his final show on 23 November, marking the end of a role he’d held since 2017. While he didn’t specify the reason behind his decision, his farewell message hinted at a shift in priorities following the appendicitis surgery he underwent in August – a moment he previously described as “a scary and extremely painful 24 hours”.
Posting a heartfelt message on Facebook, Jason wrote that “after 8 years of chatting absolute nonsense with no consequence,” he felt it was time to “hang up the headphones” and say goodbye to the show that had become part of so many people’s weekends.
He reflected on nearly 400 episodes shared with listeners, from the early days of comedian guests to the surreal stretch of lockdown broadcasts. “Over 800,000 of you tuned in every week and somehow made it one of the most listened-to shows on the station. That’s humbling and a real privilege. Thank you,” he added.
Jason, who often joked that listeners joined him from “your mornings, your cars, your kitchens and your dog walks,” admitted the connection meant more to him than he could ever express.
His departure comes just months after he was hospitalised for emergency surgery. Updating fans from his hospital bed at the time, he said the appendix removal had “all gone well” but admitted the ordeal was frightening. He added that he was grateful for the NHS – and for his nurse mum, who he called “a godsend in a health crisis”.
Fans were gutted by his decision to go. One listener wrote: “This is devastating news. As a north westerner exiled in London, it was the best reminder of home every Sunday.”
Though Jason won’t be returning to the weekly slot, he reassured fans that his podcast episodes should still remain available – “although not right now for some technical reason,” he joked.
For now, he leaves behind one of Absolute Radio’s most beloved shows, signing off with: “You’re welcome. Love always.”
