Comedian; Born August 13, 1930; Died June 18, 2007.

Bernard Manning was one of the most outrageous, controversial and successful stand-up comedians of his generation.

He was regularly accused of making racist jokes and taunting homosexuals, but he simply shrugged his shoulders and carried on regardless, fiercely denying he was a racist himself.

And although Manning was anathema to the politically correct establishment, he remained a favourite in many clubs where what has been described as his "dodgy" material was enthusiastically lapped up.

He was rated one of the greatest ever comedians, according to Channel 4's Top 100 Stand-up Comedians of All Time.

It was his uninhibited material, on race, homosexuality and other sensitive issues which ensured that his critics kept his name in the public eye.

Bernard Manning, who stuck by his Mancunian roots, was born in the Ancoats district of the city. He was of working-class Irish Catholic extraction and also claimed Jewish roots.

He had little thought of a career in the entertainment business until his posting to Germany when he was doing his national service. He began to sing popular songs to entertain his comrades.

This led to Manning putting on his own shows and charging admission. When the audiences continued to arrive, he realised that there was a future for him in the entertainment business.

He sang professionally on his demobilisation, and worked with many big bands of the 1950s. Manning introduced humour into his compering, gradually moving from being a singer who told jokes to the status of a comedian who sang.

He made his TV debut on Granada's stand-up comedy show, The Comedians (1971-73).

Much of his material would have been generally acceptable in the 1970s, but as the years passed, many of his jokes caused eyebrows to rise.

One of his regular haunts was The Embassy Club in Manchester, which he owned. It was later managed by his son.

Manning was the subject of a TV documentary when he travelled to Las Vegas. He had a successful week at the MGM Grand Hotel after receiving advice on how to deal with American audiences by the no less controversial comedian, Joan Rivers.