It may be 12 years since Peter Kay’s last stand up tour, but within minutes of the comedy legend’s triumphant comeback at Manchester’s AO Arena on Friday night it was like he’d never been away. Crowds chanted his name, and his mere silhouette was enough to have the audience in stitches.
Having near sold out a mammoth 110 dates across the UK you’d think he might have expected a rapturous reception. But it was clear that the roaring warmth of a home crowd here in Manchester really touched him on opening night.
“Lovely Manchester you made me cry,” he said, seemingly unable to believe the emotion himself.
READ MORE: Peter Kay in tears as crowds roar his Manchester Arena entrance
Wiping away those tears though, the rest of the night was firmly about making his fans laugh - and laugh and laugh they did.
This show really did have it all - for the die-hards there was the knowing laughs to famous quips from years gone by. For those who have never seen him live before there were his hilarious musings on modern life.
Boltonian Peter’s charm is his brilliant observations on everyday life, and this new show reminded fans just what they’d been missing. It clearly meant a lot to Peter to be starting it all in an arena where he actually used to work as a steward - gleefully telling us about his interview for the job back in 1995.
“I’m so f***ing grateful,” he said “I was a steward and now I’m up here”, surveying with wonder the jam-packed arena with a sea of some 15,000 faces smiling up at him.
There were his musings on famous faces he’s since met along the way in his career, and some hilariously near-to-the-knuckle anecdotes about some of them.
And yes, garlic bread gets a hefty old mention, the purists will be pleased to hear.
Peter, 49, looked in fine form in a smart black suit with a blue shirt which showed off a trimmer figure of late. He made a nod to his weight loss during one anecdote about internet clickbait stories joking: “See how much weight Peter Kay has lost”, to huge approving cheers from the audience.
There were plenty of dazzling surprises in this two-hour show. And it represents some serious value-for-money for the standard £35 ticket price that Kay insisted on setting this new tour at to make it affordable for fans.
The rocking finale allows him to live out his rock n roll dreams, in the inimitable Peter Kay way. And there is a stunning star cameo that leads to huge gasps from an audience wondering whether they can really believe their eyes - but I won’t ruin the surprise.
Peter has asked fans to respect future audiences by not videoing any element of the show which is met by cheers from most in the crowd.
“Let’s just live in the moment, and not spoil it for other people,” he says.
Given there are another 109 shows to get through over the next three years he’s probably got a point.
He told the audience that being a stand-up comedian was “the best job in the world”. And tonight, in Manchester, he proved that he’s just about the best in the world at that very job too.
Read next:-
- Manchester restaurants and bars "go large" with Christmas decorations for 2022
- Inside Manchester's new rooftop restaurant with stunning views and "food you want to eat"
- Inside new £3m MUSU restaurant aiming to take dining "to the next level" in the city
- Heaton Park to host Christmas Market for first time this year - all the details
- The new Manchester hotel with "amazing location" and rooms from £75
