...and walks into a row over impartiality

Jason Manford has attacked the BBC for editing out comments about the government treatment of soldiers that he made at the Help For Heroes concert.

His comments – made to 44,000 fans on Twitter – immediately drew criticism that, as presenter of The One Show, should be impartial.

At the concert at Twickenham Stadium, on Sunday Manford told the 60,000-strong audience that troops who return home injured should be looked after by the government, not rely on charity.

But when he found his comments had been cut from the broadcast, Manford twittered: ‘Just watched my bit at the @HelpforHeroes gig. Can't believe some shithouse edited out the bit about the Government. Free Speech my arse!’

He told his followers: ‘One in four homeless people are ex-military and a charity like Help for Heroes shouldn't even be needed if the Gov had balls.

‘I then went into gag about if they didn't sign up, it'd be conscription & there'd be likes of me out there crying in my tent every night.’

But aspiring Lib Dem politician Mathew Hulbert told him: ‘I'm afraid a by-product of becoming a BBC presenter must surely be the need to be impartial at all times?"

‘Do you ever see Huw Edwards doing that? No. Why? Because he's professional and remains impartial."

Manford hit back with: "No, you realise that I'm an adult and have opinions. Often on the One Show we offer our own opinions, ur thinking of the news.’

He added: ‘I'm a presenter in a magazine show, not a news show or a journalistic show, I'm a comedian at an event with an opinion.’

He also said his views were not party-political as servicemen and women had been failed by governments of all sides.

The BBC said Manford's routine was edited as they had to fit the five-hour live event into a two-hour broadcast. Only Peter Kay’s section and Robbie Williams' song with Gary Barlow were not subject to cuts, a spokeswoman said

After their exchange of tweets became national news, Hulbert posted: ‘ I didn't mean to cause trouble for @Jason_Manford I was just making a point. I was just concerned re impartiality but I didn't want it to become a 'news' story. I feel a bit bad, should I?

‘Just to make clear I think @Jason_Manford is a top comedian and an ace TV presenter. I've never thought otherwise.’

Published: 15 Sep 2010