A BOURNEMOUTH comedy club is in a state of shock after musical comedian Jason Wood died on Saturday, February 20, following a performance in the town on Friday night.

“We’re still reeling a bit, it’s a terrible shock,” said Mick Callaghan from Funnybone comedy club.

“Jason was a really nice bloke and always very popular at the club. He did great a show on Friday, went down a storm as always, then got his driver and said: ‘See you next time’. Next thing we heard, he’s dead. You just don’t expect something like this to happen.”

Details of Jason’s death are still unknown.

Jason, who appeared as a contestant in the first series of BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 alongside Natasha Kaplinski, was best known for his comic impersonations of performers from Cher to Morrissey, Alison Moyet and Boy George.

He also appeared on BBC1’s 29 Minutes Of Fame and the hidden camera show, Spy TV.

Fellow comics have been paying tributes to Jason online.

Flight Of The Conchords star Rhys Darby said: “Your wonderful humour and stunning voice will echo in the halls of hilarity for ever on... You were one of the good ones.”

Omid Djalii said he was a “lovely man”; and Bob Mills wote: “Absolutely grief-stricken at this news. The sweetest man. An amazing performer and an absolute joy to work with. We have lost a giant talent. My heart goes out to his family.”

Jason was a regular headliner on the British comedy circuit and performed in Holland, Germany, Spain, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the USA. He also represented England at a UN comedy festival held in South Africa and recently returned from performing on a Caribbean cruise.

He had been due to perform a burlesque cabaret night at London’s Cafe De Paris on Saturday, February 27.