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| Comedy star Bernard Manning dies | Comedy star Bernard Manning dies |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Controversial comedian Bernard Manning has died aged 76 after being treated in hospital for a kidney condition. | Controversial comedian Bernard Manning has died aged 76 after being treated in hospital for a kidney condition. |
| He shot to fame in the 1970s on ITV programme The Comedians, having already developed a career in music as a vocalist and a compere. | He shot to fame in the 1970s on ITV programme The Comedians, having already developed a career in music as a vocalist and a compere. |
| His website branded him "one of the most outrageous and successful comedians of our time". | His website branded him "one of the most outrageous and successful comedians of our time". |
| He also denied being racist, once remarking: "I tell jokes. You never take a joke seriously." | He also denied being racist, once remarking: "I tell jokes. You never take a joke seriously." |
| However, in 2002, he was banned from performing the Dorset seaside town of Weymouth, where councillors were worried that his act would breach laws on race. | However, in 2002, he was banned from performing the Dorset seaside town of Weymouth, where councillors were worried that his act would breach laws on race. |
| Until his dying day, he didn't understand what all the fuss was about Biographer Jonathan Margolis on Bernard Manning | Until his dying day, he didn't understand what all the fuss was about Biographer Jonathan Margolis on Bernard Manning |
| He died in North Manchester General Hospital at 1510 BST on Monday. | He died in North Manchester General Hospital at 1510 BST on Monday. |
| Last month a tribute to him was paid at the recording of a proposed TV show entitled This Was Your Life, in front of an audience of 600 friends and fans. | |
| He told them: "I'm going to be with you for a long time yet!" | He told them: "I'm going to be with you for a long time yet!" |
| 'Gags galore' | 'Gags galore' |
| His biographer, Jonathan Margolis, last saw him six weeks ago, and said he was "the last of the joke-tellers". | His biographer, Jonathan Margolis, last saw him six weeks ago, and said he was "the last of the joke-tellers". |
| "I think he'll inevitably become famous for this question of whether he a racist comedian - and it's a funny thing because it's some way down the list of things he was," he told the BBC News website. | "I think he'll inevitably become famous for this question of whether he a racist comedian - and it's a funny thing because it's some way down the list of things he was," he told the BBC News website. |
| He's gone but he'll never be forgotten. He was one of the most generous men on earth Frank Carson | He's gone but he'll never be forgotten. He was one of the most generous men on earth Frank Carson |
| "He was a man of his age - and as people of his age went, he was relatively un-racist. | "He was a man of his age - and as people of his age went, he was relatively un-racist. |
| "Until his dying day, he didn't understand what all the fuss was about." | "Until his dying day, he didn't understand what all the fuss was about." |
| "He whipped out gags galore and made sure everybody got a laugh," fellow comedian Frank Carson told the BBC News website. | "He whipped out gags galore and made sure everybody got a laugh," fellow comedian Frank Carson told the BBC News website. |
| Manning denied being racist, but his controversial act drew protests"He was a wonderful man. If I had to write his gravestone I'd put: 'Here lies Bernard Manning, comedian, who died 76 years old.' | Manning denied being racist, but his controversial act drew protests"He was a wonderful man. If I had to write his gravestone I'd put: 'Here lies Bernard Manning, comedian, who died 76 years old.' |
| "Underneath that I'd put: 'What a pity, he had a booking next week.'" | "Underneath that I'd put: 'What a pity, he had a booking next week.'" |
| Carson added: "He's gone but he'll never be forgotten. He was one of the most generous men on earth." | Carson added: "He's gone but he'll never be forgotten. He was one of the most generous men on earth." |
| Another comedian, Stan Boardman, said that all he did "was take the mickey", which was "the British sense of humour". | Another comedian, Stan Boardman, said that all he did "was take the mickey", which was "the British sense of humour". |
| It's come all of a sudden as we thought he was on the mend Showbiz agent Mickey Martin | It's come all of a sudden as we thought he was on the mend Showbiz agent Mickey Martin |
| "When we're at school we always take the mickey out of our mates and the way we're dressed - take the mickey out of everybody," he explained to BBC Radio Five Live. | "When we're at school we always take the mickey out of our mates and the way we're dressed - take the mickey out of everybody," he explained to BBC Radio Five Live. |
| Showbiz agent Mickey Martin, who was a close friend of the comedian, told the Manchester Evening News that his death was a sad loss. | Showbiz agent Mickey Martin, who was a close friend of the comedian, told the Manchester Evening News that his death was a sad loss. |
| "I was going to visit him today but young Bernard called to say he's gone," he said, referring to Manning's son. | "I was going to visit him today but young Bernard called to say he's gone," he said, referring to Manning's son. |
| "It's come all of a sudden as we thought he was on the mend." | "It's come all of a sudden as we thought he was on the mend." |