Peter Kay has thanked his fans during a rare radio appearance after he admitted to being 'overwhelmed' by the reaction to his comeback. Those who tuned into the launch of I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here were both surprised and thrilled as the comedian randomly popped up during a very special advert.
It saw Peter, 49, reveal to a neighbour that he was going back on tour while clinging onto a roll of carpet for his mum's house after he was asking if he bought her a house. He revealed during a chat with Zoe Ball on her BBC Radio 2 Breakfast show that he kept filming of the special ad local, and even borrowed said carpet from a local shop.
Peter's huge new UK comedy tour, aptly titled the Better Late Than Never Tour, will open in just a matter of weeks, starting on home turf with two nights at Manchester's AO Arena.
READ MORE: Peter Kay shares mum's worry after seeing his tour announcement on TV which he says 'cost a fortune'
Bolton's very own comedy superstar will appear live on stage in Manchester on December 2 and 3 before heading off across the county with dates all over the UK and Ireland announced for throughout 2023. The string of live show, which now includes a residency at London's 02 Arena, marks his first stand-up tour in 12 years.
It comes four years after he was due to play a 100-gig nationwide comeback tour in 2018 - but only weeks later announced it was off due to "unforeseen family circumstances". Peter had, however, returned to the spotlight earlier this year for a series of Dance for Life charity gigs but this'll be the first time he goes solo to perform brand new material to his loyal following.
During his radio appearance on Wednesday morning (November 9), Peter, who has been wowing fans at tiny studio gig in Salford, spoke about how he felt seeing the advert for the first time as he sat down to watch it in anticipation. "Please tell me you were sat there waiting, with the family, for it to come on?" Zoe said.
To which Peter replied: "Yeah, and it got to 29 minutes past nine and I'm thinking, 'They've not had a commercial break yet! This has cost a fortune to put this one.'" As Zoe laughed, he quipped: "Luckily 02 paid!" He shared how it was his idea to put it on during I'm A Celeb as it would 'take people by surprise'.
And Peter also shared his own surprise as the announcement of his tour made the top headlines on the news. "I could not get over... I was lying in bed with Susan [his wife] on Monday night because I had a show, a practice, and Huw Edwards was on the news with a picture of me behind him. He was doing the Queen's funeral and he's talking about me!
"I'm going, 'I'm on the news! The main news! This is ridiculous.'" Peter then quipped: "I thought it's got to be a slow news day, hasn't it?" But he proved his humble nature still remains after all these years as he and Zoe wrapped up their chat.
"Thanks everybody and thanks, honestly... I really appreciate all what's been happening over the last few days," he said. "It's been so lovely and so nice. [It's] proper overwhelming. So thank you very much." Peter also added: "I hope I do you a good show."
It comes after fans have already been hailing the Phoenix Nights star during a run of 'secret' gigs which Peter claimed 'aren't secret' at Salford's Lowry Theatre. According to someone who got to witness him in action, the show includes new material as well as nods to some of his classic comedy moments that have made him one of the nation's best-loved stars.
And for the encore he apparently reprised one of his "best-loved scenes". Addressing the show's with Zoe, Peter said he's got a 'couple left' so if fans want to get a preview of what's to come, they'll need to be quick.
Peter has also announced tickets, which go on general sale Saturday 12th November at 10am, will be priced at £35 in his bid to help with the cost of living crisis. Defending his decision, Peter told Zoe they "had to" keep the ticket prices low amid "bad time" but reckons that his comeback made the news because people 'need a laugh'.
It comes as Peter's 2010 tour, which he has matched the prices off, still officially ranks with the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest-selling comedy tour of all time which played to over 1.2m people.
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