The O2’s priority website and app crashed on Thursday morning as Peter Kay fans scrambled to snap up tickets to the comedian’s comeback stand-up tour.
Kay announced on Sunday he is returning with a live comedy tour - his first in 12 years - which is due to start in December and run until summer 2023.
He also announced he will be performing a monthly residency at London’s O2 Arena, in Greenwich. He will become the first comedian to be given his own residency at the venue.
Tickets went live for those with O2 priority access at 10am on Thursday - 48 hours before becoming available to the general public.
But “extraordinary” demand left the customers struggling to reach its website or app.
We’re seeing unprecedented demand for Peter Kay tickets & we know a lot of you can’t access Priority. Sorry, we’re working on it. Please be patient; this is by far the highest demand we’ve ever seen for Priority Tickets in 15 years. The presale lasts for 48h so keep checking.
— O2 (@O2) November 10, 2022
Apologising to customers on Twitter shortly after 10am, O2 said: “We’re seeing unprecedented demand for Peter Kay tickets & we know a lot of you can’t access Priority. Sorry, we’re working on it.
“Please be patient; this is by far the highest demand we’ve ever seen for Priority Tickets in 15 years. The presale lasts for 48h so keep checking.”
The priority website was still down for some customers at around 3.30pm.
O2 assured that tickets were being successfully purchased, and urged people to “keep trying”.
Announcing his tour on Sunday, Kay said: “If there’s ever a time people need a laugh, it’s now. And, with the cost of living at an all-time high, ticket prices are starting from £35. The same price they were on my previous tour in 2010.”
Here’s when and where Peter Kay will be performing and how to get tickets.
Peter Kay tour dates
The full list of locations that Kay will be taking to the stage is:
- Manchester AO Arena, Friday, December 2, 2022
- Manchester AO Arena, Saturday, December 3, 2022
- Birmingham Utilita Arena, Saturday, December 17, 2022
- Liverpool M&S Bank Arena, Friday, January 6, 2023
- Liverpool M&S Bank Arena, Saturday, January 7, 2023
- Leeds First Direct Arena, Friday, January 20, 2023
- Sheffield Utilita Arena, Friday, January 20, 2023
- Belfast SSE Arena, Thursday, February 23, 2023
- Belfast SSE Arena, Friday, February 24, 2023
- Newcastle Utilita Arena, Thursday, March 9, 2023
- Newcastle Utilita Arena, Friday, March 10, 2023
- Birmingham Resorts World Arena, Thursday, March 23, 2023
- Dublin 3Arena, Thursday, April 6, 2023
- Dublin 3Arena, Friday, April 7, 2023
- Glasgow OVO Hydro, Friday, May 5, 2023
- Glasgow OVO Hydro, Saturday, May 6, 2023
- Leeds First Direct Arena, Friday, May 19, 2023
- Cardiff International Arena, Friday, June 16, 2023
- Cardiff International Arena, Saturday, June 17, 2023
- Nottingham Motorpoint Arena, Friday, July 14, 2023
- Nottingham Motorpoint Arena, Saturday, July 15, 2023
- Sheffield Utilita Arena, Friday, August 11, 2023
Peter Kay residency dates
The shows at London’s O2 in Greenwich will run monthly for almost a year, beginning this December.
- Friday, December 16, 2022
- Saturday, January 21, 2023
- Saturday, February 18, 2023
- Wednesday, March 13, 2023
- Saturday, April 22, 2023
- Saturday, May 20, 2023
- Saturday, June 3, 2023
- Saturday, July 29, 2023
- Wednesday, August 30, 2023
- Saturday, September 9, 2023
- Saturday, October 7, 2023
- Saturday, November 18, 2023
How to get tickets for Peter Kay’s new tour and residency
Tickets go on sale to non-priority customers from Saturday, November 12, at 10am, via www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.
For Belfast and Dublin tour performances, tickets will be available at https://www.ticketmaster.ie/search?q=peter+kay.
