PA ImagesJason Manford is no stranger to controversy but his latest prank has got him in hot water with some fans on social media.
Manford made light of 2016’s vendetta against famous people by posting a joke tweet that he’d died in the last seconds of 2016, after a fan asked him whether he’d survived the year.
The tweets came from Jason’s ‘personal assistant’ who joked: ‘I’m afraid he died at 23.59. Soz. Jason’s PA. xxx’, The Mirror reports.
Most fans saw the funny side of things…
Teehee RT @Gailhemsley: Happy New Year Jason, so happy you're still alive! ? you made me proper giggle last night! #jasonspa ?
— JasonManford (@JasonManford) January 1, 2017
These tweets are hilarious ?
— Sarah (@Sarahessex73) January 1, 2017
I can't believe people actually believed you'd died, did they not read all the "PA" tweets? ? they made last night interesting
— Juyey (@juyeybats) January 1, 2017
Hilariously Manford took things a step further, joking that he’d be having a viking funeral at Salford Quays, with his funeral barge to be set ablaze by arrow and that his PA had to delete his internet search history immediately.
The Mancunian comedian even poked fun at the recent Star Wars film, saying that although he’d died he’d be brought back using CGI for two new James Bond films, ‘The Pie Who Loved Me’ and Chicken Royale’.
Unfortunately the internet exists to prove why we’re not allowed to have nice things and there were a few sensitive souls who thought that Jason’s piss taking was taking the piss.
Here’s a selection of the offended…
[tweet https://twitter.com/chewybacckebubi/status/815377300933853184 conversation=”false”]
[tweet https://twitter.com/kes2611/status/815372916695166976 conversation=”false”]
[tweet https://twitter.com/mollie5555/status/815371820312489984 conversation=”false”]
[tweet https://twitter.com/rachiebaby84/status/815683581192376321 conversation=”false”]
Thankfully Jason wasn’t really dead, it was all just a funny New Year’s Eve joke, and he let all his followers know he was alive and well the next morning.
Jason did seem to take the proverbial hump with some fans tweeting they were being ridiculous and that this was clearly a prank.
So to confirm Jason Manford is still alive and may be searching for a new PA…
More of a concept than a journalist, Tom Percival was forged in the bowels of Salford University from which he emerged grasping a Masters in journalism.
Since then his rise has been described by himself as ‘meteoric’ rising to the esteemed rank of Social Editor at UNILAD as well as working at the BBC, Manchester Evening News, and ITV.
He credits his success to three core techniques, name repetition, personality mirroring, and never breaking off a handshake.