Jason Manford recalls heart-stopping moment he was ‘nearly chucked in jail’ for carrying collagen through customs in Bilbao amid health woes

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On Tuesday in Bilbao, Spain, comedian Jason Manford reminisced about the pulse-pounding instance when he was held up by customs for transporting a sack of collagen.

The 44-year-old comedian quipped that he almost ended up in prison when a white powdery substance in his luggage sparked worries among customs officials.

Fans were left laughing when Jason shared his terrifying experience after clearing customs, in a video posted on X.

He recently disembarked from a ferry in Bilbao, where they were stopped and their vehicle was inspected.

The concerning moment arrived when the customs officer inquired, “What’s inside that box?”, referring to it containing items from Will Powders.

…”Next, I’ll reveal the contents of this collagen peptides bag, but my pulse quickened – it seemed like such a large quantity of pure white powder.”

Or, if you prefer a more colloquial tone:

…”Now let me show you what’s inside this bag of collagen peptides – my heart skipped a beat because it looked like an enormous amount of pure white stuff!

‘Phew! Got away with it though’, he quipped.

Jason titled his post: “A heart-pounding instance at the customs in Bilbao! Almost ended up in jail due to a bag of collagen from @willpowders! Whew!” (or alternatively, “Narrowly avoided jail time over some @willpowders collagen at customs in Bilbao! Phew!”)

Fans wrote in the comments: ‘You lead an exciting life [laughing face emojis]’,

1. Instead of saying, “More material to bank for the next tour,” you can say, “We have plenty of content saved up for our upcoming tour.”
2. A possible rephrasing for “You could write your whole next tour just off this week xx” is, “With all that we’ve experienced this week, it seems like we already have enough ideas to fill an entire new tour.”

I take my willow bark and collagen supplements with me wherever I go. Additionally, I carry a large measuring spoon for them in my luggage. Whenever I pass through airport security, I hold my breath, anticipating that I might be singled out for a closer inspection.

On Monday, Jason shared both a medical update regarding his recent surgery and a resilient message following the cancellation of four scheduled performances.

Initially, he was scheduled to perform at his A Manford All Seasons tour in Hertfordshire on Thursday. However, it became known that he wasn’t well enough, leading him to cancel not only that performance but also three additional shows following the announcement of his ill health.

Later on, it was disclosed that he had contracted appendicitis – a condition where the appendix becomes inflamed, leading to intense abdominal pain in most instances, and typically requires surgical removal by doctors.

On Sunday, it appeared that Jason was making a swift recovery, as he shared on Instagram that he had been discharged from the hospital and was preparing for a vacation instead.

The television host boldly asserted that he wouldn’t give up, updating his followers about significant changes in his travel plans due to his health condition.

Posting a picture of him lounging on a bed inside a ferry cabin, Jason wrote: “I refuse to give up! I’m off for a vacation! Though I can’t fly to Portugal, check out this ferry instead! Here I come. 🚢 It’s a 33-hour ride.

His post was met with plenty of messages from fans expressing their joy that he was on the mend. 

Last week, I found myself gratefully surrounded by my loving parents at my bedside following an appendix operation. Their tender support helped me immensely during my recovery process.

He posted a heartwarming photo on Instagram, revealing that his parents, Sharon and Ian, had come to see him at the hospital. This was his way of keeping fans informed about his current situation.

He wrote, “My parents are coming to take care of me tonight since the rest of the family is gone. They don’t like me being alone, so they’re here!” The sentiment remains: They’ll always treat me as their little one, even as I grow older!

On Sunday, it was John Bishop who took over for Jason at the Kendal Calling festival. The well-known British comedian from Liverpool, aged 58, posted a funny video announcing the change, which was then shared on Jason’s social media account.

In a direct address to the camera, John shared: “Kendal Calling on Sunday afternoon is not cancelable, and since I’m available, I agreed to take over for Jason in his absence.

After a harrowing 24-hour period, it was discovered that Jason had developed symptoms while cruising along the highway at 70 miles per hour.

He posted on Instagram: “My appendix operation was successful, now I’m on the road to recovery, sipping on Vimto – they offer it at every hospital in Manchester.

Experienced a rather frightening and intensely uncomfortable 24-hour period, yet grateful for the outstanding care provided by our NHS and my remarkable mother, who proved to be an angel during this health emergency!

‘My advice would be to not get Appendicitis whilst driving at 70mph on the motorway!’

Jason expressed his sadness over missing his forthcoming performances and extended gratitude to the fans for their encouragement.

To be honest, I’m truly disappointed that I needed to shift the schedule for this weekend, and I apologize for giving short notice to numerous individuals in St Albans, Oxford, Lincoln, Skegness, and at Kendall Calling,” he further explained.

It seemed possible for me to manage with antibiotics and postpone surgery, allowing me to continue performing, but I was counseled against it.

In addition, this means I won’t be able to travel to Portugal with my family on a holiday on Monday. Oh well, that’s just how things go sometimes. Thank you for all your “Get Well Soon” messages.

On Thursday, it became clear that Jason had to cancel his performance in Hertfordshire because he wasn’t well.

I’m sorry to share this news, but unfortunately, the performance of ‘A Manford All Seasons’ at Alban Arena scheduled for tonight has been suddenly canceled because Jason Manford is not feeling well. The show will be rescheduled to Monday, 20th October 2025 instead.

‘Thank you for understanding, we apologise for any inconvenience caused.’

As a devoted follower, I’d like to share an update: Three additional events initially planned for Oxford, Lincoln, and Skegness have been postponed and are now scheduled for later in 2025 and early 2026.

I’m sorry to say, but unfortunately, the scheduled shows of “A Manford All Seasons” have had to be canceled on short notice because Jason Manford is not feeling well.

‘Our shows will be taking place at the Oxford New Theatre, Lincoln’s The Engine Shed, and Skegness’s Embassy Hall. We regret any trouble this may cause.’

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2025-08-05 13:50