Jason Manford warns comedy success 'harder for females'

Jason Manford has said comedy is "harder for females" because of the audience's preconceptions.

The One Show's former co-host told Radio Times magazine that there were more male than female comedians on the circuit because "stand-up is a bit like flirting".

"When a bloke comes out and does his thing, he's making people laugh, and this is what you do when you're flirting," the comedian continued.

Manford said that although he thought the BBC's decision to ban all-male panel shows was "a brilliant idea" he did not think it should have been publicly announced.

"I just don't think they should have said it out loud. Why say it? Just do it, and then let it become a thing," he told the magazine.

"By saying it, you're undermining the female on the panel show because now she's thinking, 'Am I here because I'm funny or because they needed one?"'

His comments came after Mock The Week host Dara O'Briain said that he opposed the way that the BBC had publicly aired its decision to get more women on panel shows.

"I have nothing against this idea that there be women on panel shows or indeed that quietly you ask panel shows to make sure there are women on panel shows. My only objection was to announcing it," O'Briain said.