Comedian Jason Manford claims he was rejected for a slot presenting a London-based radio show because he is 'too Northern'.

The Salford-born comic auditioned for a role on Capital FM's breakfast show standing in for regular host Johnny Vaughan.

But he was turned down for the job – and has claimed that the station told him the station didn't want a Northerner.

The father-of-two, who is a team captain on the Channel 4 quiz comedy 8 out of 10 cats, broke the news on his Twitter account.

He wrote: “Did test for Capital Radio to fill in for Johnny Vaughan in a few weeks.

“Just had a call to say Richard Park thinks I'm 'too Northern' for it.”

“To be fair, I have hidden my Northerness for years now so they probably didn't realise when they asked me to test. Shouldn't have worn the cap.”

Manford, 28, added later: “Right off out to race pigeons, stroke whippets, eat pies, smoke rollups, drink bitter, watch Corrie and have a fight. Hope that's not too Northern.”

Richard Park is the boss of Capital FM. The station admitted that Manford may have been told by a producer that he was considered 'too northern' for the station but insisted that it was not Richard Park who called Manford and said Mr Park had not expressed that view.

A Global Radio spokesperson said: "Jason didn’t get the position, because there were better candidates, not because of where he is from.  95.8 Capital FM employs people from all over the UK including presenters such as Dave Kelly from Northampton, Kevin Hughes from Cardiff, Johnny Vaughan from London and Rich Clarke from Worcester.”

Manford, a former City Life comedian of the year, is set to host a new variety show for ITV1 later this month called Comedy Rocks.

It will see some of the country's favourite entertainers teaming up with some of Britain's hottest music acts.