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Manford and Nickless back for fifth time in Dick Whittington

Jason Manford and Ben Nickless to star in the Christmas 2026 panto DIck Whittington at Manchester's Opera House
Jason Manford and Ben Nickless will star in DIck Whittington at Manchester's Opera House this Christmas

Comedians Jason Manford and Ben Nickless will pair up for the fifth time for this year's Manchester Opera House pantomime. 

This time it will be Dick Whittington (December 5-January 3, 2027), with Manford in the title role and Nickless as Idle Jack. 

Salford-born Manford is one of the UK’s leading multi-talented performers, with a career spanning comedy, acting, presenting and singing on both stage and screen. He has hosted many shows for the BBC and ITV including Children In Need, The Olivier Awards, Unbeatable, Sunday Night at The Palladium and The Royal Variety Performance. He has starred in musicals including Wizard of Oz, Sweeney Todd, The Producers, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Guys and Dolls, Curtains, and Something Rotten!, the last of those returning to the Opera House this summer with Jason as Nick Bottom. 

Jason is currently on tour in his solo show, A Manford All Seasons.


More info and tickets here

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