Comedian Jason Manford has described a 'heart-stopping moment' during a van search as he embarked on a 33-hour road trip to Portugal following his recent appendix surgery. The 42-year-old was forced to cancel several shows last week after being diagnosed with appendicitis, which required emergency surgery.
Manford, who was unable to fly due to his condition, took a ferry to Bilbao with his family. During a routine border check, officers searched his van and discovered a bag of white powder, which turned out to be collagen peptide supplements. 'My heart was in my mouth,' he told followers on social media, joking that he 'got away with it'.
The father-of-six had initially planned to join his family on holiday in Portugal but had to rearrange travel after doctors advised against flying. He shared an update from his hospital bed, thanking the NHS and his nurse mother for their care. 'Appendix surgery all went well,' he wrote, adding that it was a 'scary and extremely painful 24 hours'.
Manford apologised to fans for cancelling shows in St Albans, Oxford, Lincoln, Skegness, and at Kendal Calling, where comedian John Bishop stepped in. Three of the four cancelled gigs are expected to be rescheduled.
