Peter Kay has been brought to tears tonight (Friday) by appreciative crowds on the opening night of his first tour in 12 years. The 49-year-old comic was greeted by applause and cheers at Manchester’s AO Arena and was seen wiping away tears.
The stage was set for the opening night of his first solo tour in 12 years, with 110 dates kicking off with a sell-out crowd on home turf for the Bolton funnyman. Peter will be taking his show around the UK this year and in 2023, 2024 and 2025 - with dates in London, Cardiff, Belfast, Liverpool, Birmingam, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Nottingham and Newcastle.
A ful list of tour dates can be found at the bottom of this article. On his long-awaited return in Manchester, Peter arrived in a spotlight silhouette akin to James Bond, before the curtain fell to huge cheers from the crowd.
Chants of “Peter” rang out amid thunderous applause from the thousands packing into the arena - where, pre-fame, the comic once worked in the 1990s as a steward. He looked quite overwhelmed and appeared to wipe away tears as the crowd continued to cheer, reports the Manchester Evening News.
“Aw you’ll have me in bits,” he said.
“Lovely Manchester you made me cry,” he added.
“I can’t believe I cried, where did it come from all that emotion?”
Peter looked in fine form in a smart black suit with a blue shirt. He had the crowd in stitches with the new comedy show which started at 8pm.
Earlier this year fans got a surprise in between the adverts of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, on ITV, when Peter was filmed carrying a rolled-up carpet into his mum’s house. He joked with the cameraman before confirming his tour and announcing when tickets were due to go on sale.
The announcement sparked a huge demand for tickets when the initial 22 tour dates first went on sale. Now Peter will play 110 live shows in total across 2022, 2023, 2024 and right into 2025.
After announcing the tour, he said: "It’s good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy, and if there’s ever a time people need a laugh it’s now." And after seeing the demand for the shows, he admitted he was "blown away" by the reaction.
The two opening nights in Manchester sold out within minutes of going on sale - as did many, many others of the eventual 110 dates added over the next three years.
Peter Kay tour dates 2022 - 2025
Friday, December 2 - Manchester AO Arena - 2022
Saturday, December 3 - Manchester AO Arena - 2022
Friday, December 16 - The O2 Arena, London - 2022
Saturday, December 17 - Birmingham Utilita Arena - 2022
Friday, January 6 - Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
Saturday, January 7 - Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
Friday, January 20 - Leeds First Direct Arena
Saturday, January 21 - The O2 Arena, London
Friday, February 17 - Sheffield Utilita Arena
Saturday, February 18 - The O2 Arena, London
Thursday, February 23 - Belfast SSE Arena
Friday, February 24 - Belfast SSE Arena
Saturday, February 25 - Belfast SSE Arena
Thursday, March 9 - Newcastle Utilita Arena
Friday, March 10 - Newcastle Utilita Arena
Wednesday, March 22 - The O2 Arena, London
Thursday, March 23 - Birmingham Resorts World Arena
Thursday, April 6 - Dublin 3Arena
Friday, April 7 - Dublin 3Arena
Friday, April 21 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Saturday, April 22 - The O2 Arena, London
Friday, May 5 - Glasgow OVO Hydro
Saturday, May 6 - Glasgow OVO Hydro
Friday, May 19 - Leeds First Direct Arena
Saturday, May 20 - The O2 Arena, London
Friday, June 2 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Saturday, June 3 - The O2 Arena, London
Friday, June 16 - Cardiff International Arena
Saturday, June 17 - Cardiff International Arena
Friday, July 14 - Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Saturday, July 15 - Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
Friday, July 28 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Saturday, July 29 - The O2 Arena, London
Friday, August 11 - Sheffield Utilita Arena
Saturday, August 12 - Sheffield Utilita Arena
Tuesday, August 29 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham
Wednesday, August 30 - The O2 Arena, London
Friday, September 8 - Leeds First Direct Arena
Saturday, September 9 - The O2 Arena, London
Friday, September 22 - Manchester AO Arena
Saturday, September 23 - Manchester AO Arena
Saturday, October 7 - The O2 Arena, London
Thursday, October 19 - Manchester AO Arena
Friday, October 20 - Manchester AO Arena
Sunday, November 5 - Manchester AO Arena
Monday, November 6 - Manchester AO Arena
Saturday, November 18 - The O2 Arena, London
Friday, December 1 - Manchester AO Arena 2023
Saturday, December 16 - London, The O2 2023
January 5 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024
January 6 - The O2, London 2024
January 26 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
January 27 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
February 9 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
February 10 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
February 23 - Sheffield, Utilita Arena 2024
February 24 -The O2, London 2024
March 8 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
March 9 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
March 22 - First Direct Arena, Leeds 2024
March 23 -The O2, London 2024
April 5 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
April 6 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
April 19 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024
April 20 -The O2, London 2024
May 3 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024
May 4 -The O2, London 2024
May 17 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
May 18 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
June 1 - First Direct Arena, Leeds 2024
June 2 - The O2, London 2024
July 12 -Sheffield, Utilita Arena 2024
July 13 - The O2 Arena, London 2024
June 14 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
June 15 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
July 26 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
July 27 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
August 9 -Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024
August 10 - The O2 Arena, London 2024
August 23 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
August 24 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
September 6 -Sheffield, Utilita Arena 2024
September 7 - The O2 Arena, London 2024
September 20 - Manchester AO Arena 2024
September 21 - Manchester AO Arena 2024
October 7 -Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024
October 8 - The O2 Arena, London 2024
October 18 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
October 19 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
November 1 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
November 2 -Manchester AO Arena 2024
November 15 -Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024
November 16 - The O2 Arena, London 2024
November 29 - Manchester AO Arena 2024
November 30 - Manchester AO Arena 2024
December 5 - The O2 Arena, London 2024
December 6 -Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024
December 20 - Manchester AO Arena 2024
December 21 - Manchester AO Arena 2024
January 10 - Manchester AO Arena 2025
January 11 - Manchester AO Arena 2025
January 24 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2025
January 25 - The O2 Arena, London 2025
February 8 - Manchester AO Arena 2025
February 21 - Birmingham Resorts World Arena 2025
February 22 - The O2 Arena, London 2025
April 5 - Manchester AO Arena 2025
May 17 - Manchester AO Arena 2025
June 7 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2025
June 21 - Manchester AO Arena 2025
July 25 - Manchester AO Arena 2025
All tour tickets are available on Ticketmaster , See Tickets and the Ticket Factory (Ticket factory is for Birmingham dates only). Speaking of the tour, Kay said: "It’s good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy and if there’s ever a time people need a laugh it’s now."
