Comedian and father-of-six Jason Manford found himself in hot water after a social media joke about his wife Lucy Dyke expecting their seventh child spectacularly backfired.
The Prank That Started It All
On Sunday, 16 November, the comedian took to Instagram, sharing a photo that sent his followers into a frenzy. The picture showed Manford looking tired and miserable in a hospital waiting room, posing beneath what appeared to be an ultrasound screen.
In the caption, he wrote the fateful words: "Here we go again." Fans immediately flooded the comments with congratulatory messages, expressing surprise that the comedian, who already has six children, was expecting another.
One fan commented, "No way… 6 sounded hard work when you were talking about your family at Derby gig the other night. Congrats." Others were more sceptical, pointing out that Manford had a vasectomy two years prior, with one follower questioning, "I was thinking then, how did that happen! He's had the [scissor emoji] you b*****!"
The Truth Comes Out
Just two hours after his initial post, Jason Manford was forced to return to social media to clarify the situation and apologise to his fans. He admitted the joke had "backfired" and revealed he was actually at the hospital for a scan on a potential hernia.
"Well that joke backfired," he confessed. "Sorry folks, was just a scan for a potential hernia! (All clear btw!). Bored on a Sunday." Many followers found the situation hilarious, including fellow comedian Asim Chaudhry, who dubbed Manford a "potent prankster."
Wife Lucy's Furious Reaction
The real fallout came an hour later when Manford revealed his wife Lucy's furious reaction. He shared a screenshot of a text exchange where he sent Lucy a Daily Mail article about his prank with the simple comment: "Whoops."
Lucy's response was swift and angry, written in all capitals: "YOU OWE ME CHLOE SHOES AND THE EXPENSIVE ONES." The luxury designer brand Chloe is known for its high-end footwear, with prices ranging from £390 to an eye-watering £2,290.
In his caption accompanying the screenshot, Manford admitted he "didn't even think" about the impact his joke would have on his wife. He then jokingly underestimated the cost of the demanded apology gift, suggesting £40 – a figure significantly lower than any item in Chloe's collection.
Jason Manford married Lucy Dyke in 2017, and the couple have two children together. He has four children from his first marriage to Catherine, which ended in divorce in 2013. This social media mishap serves as a reminder that even jokes made in boredom can have expensive consequences.
