Bolton comedy legend Peter Kay has been playing a string of "top secret" stand up comedy shows at a Salford theatre. It has fuelled speculation a major tour announcement may be on the cards from the Phoenix Nights superstar.
Revellers heading to the top secret shows this week were made to hand in their mobile phones on the way in to The Lowry theatre studio. One fan said they had to "whisper" what the show was when collecting their tickets at the theatre.
Some took to Twitter afterwards to rave about the experience with one fan saying it was "the best night of their lives". There has been feverish speculation that comedy icon Peter could be planning a 2023 "comeback" tour across the UK.
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It is understood that the Phoenix Nights star is currently "testing out" new and raw comedy material which some think may be a warm up for a bigger tour. Tickets are not publicly on sale on The Lowry's website for the shows, and he's been using the little-known Studio space at the arts venue which has a 120-capacity crowd.
It is fairly common practice for comedians to play intimate and low-key warm up gigs ahead of major tours to test their material on audiences. But there has, as yet, been no announcement of a new stand up tour from Peter Kay or from his promotion team.
Fans who were lucky enough to get tickets to the secret gigs this week gave away some snippets on social media.
Paula Bear said on Twitter: "Omg just been to a secret gig with Peter Kay at The Lowry. Best night of my life ever, that guy is a legend.
"Phones in locked pouches, secret ticket collection, the lot. Still buzzing."
When asked by friends for more information about the show, she added: "It was the weirdest but best experience ever. He is just such a grounded fella. The gig was really raw and unpolished which was what made it so personal."
She further added: "The whole room was giddy. It was brilliant"
Paul Trainer was also at one of the gigs and said on Twitter: "Just got back from a great night attending a surprise Peter Kay concert in Manchester. A really fun night!"
Fans are desperate to hear if Peter will be heading out on a new comedy tour, after his recent return to live performance with the charity gigs Dance For Life across the UK in April this year. Speculation was rife in the summer that a major new tour was being planned by Peter for 2023 - but there's been no official confirmation or announcement of that yet.
The comic has been mostly out of the spotlight since the cancellation of his planned stand up tour in December 2017 citing "unforeseen family circumstances".
In August last year, Peter was given a standing ovation as he made his way back to the stage for his first gig in three years. He performed for a delighted crowd at the O2 Apollo in Manchester as he staged two Q&As for charity.
He addressed his absence, joking to the crowd: "I've never in my life had a standing ovation when I came on. I'm going to go away for four more years."
While Peter has been peforming at the 120-seat Studio space at The Lowry this week, in the main Lyric Theatre is one of Peter's idols and pals - Take That star Gary Barlow. Gary is wowing fans this week at a string of sold-out shows on his ongoing tour of his acclaimed one-man show A Different Stage.
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