REMEMBER those "true" stories you'd hear in the playground? Comedian Jason Manford does - he has built a show around urban legends and he's bringing it to Darwen on November 17.

Like the couple making out in their car in the middle of nowhere when they hear an emergency radio news report announcing a murderer with a hook for a hand had escaped from the local psychiatric hospital and was on the prowl?

They immediately locked the doors and drove home.

When they got out of the car they found a bloodied hook on the car door handle.

"You could believe it in America but it falls down a bit when the story's set in Denton," said comic Jason Manford.

"And yet people still tell the stories like they're true."

Such urban myths make up his hilarious show, Urban Legend, coming to Darwen's Library Theatre.

Jason launched his show in Edinburgh and has sold out venues in the West End and Manchester.

So why did he chose Darwen Library Theatre for the finale?

"I love Darwen Library Theatre," he said. "I went there last year when I was supporting Patrick McGuinness and both the theatre and the audience were lovely.

"I thought If I ever get a chance to do a show on my own, I'm definitely coming back here'."

Jason burst on to the North West comedy scene seven years ago.

He was 17, working as a glass collector at Manchester comedy club The Buzz when an act didn't turn up, so he decided to have a go.

After only five weeks and four gigs he won the North West Comedian of the Year Award, previously won by Caroline Aherne, Johnny Vegas and Peter Kay.

The unusual concept of his show, far-fetched urban myths, is something that has always interested Jason.

"I've loved them since I was a kid," he said.

"Someone will tell you a story that happened to a friend of a friend.

"It's clearly not real but they tell it like it's gospel.

"I look into the history behind them in the show and a few are actually true. What's funny is that most of them are so well-known that I only get a couple of seconds into the story before people recognise them and start laughing."

What is his particular favourite?

"I like the one about the IRA member re-paying a stranger's kind gesture by telling them not to go to the Arndale Centre. I do a joke around that, saying he said Don't go into Blackburn on Friday night' Why is it going to get blown up? No, it's just crap'."

Although the show isn't particularly child-friendly, it is suitable for teenagers.

"It's hard to be that scary with a northern accent anyway," he said.

"Ee were bangin' severed ead on't roof... it just doesn't work does it?"

See Jason Manford, Urban Legend, at Darwen Library Theatre, Knott Street, Darwen, on Friday, November 17, 8pm. Call box office on 01254 706 006.