Peter Kay moved to tears in live comeback as tour kicks off in Manchester

Comedian Peter Kay was moved to tears arsenic helium was fixed a lasting ovation astatine the commencement of his archetypal circuit for 12 years.

The assemblage chanted his sanction arsenic helium took to the signifier astatine Manchester's AO arena.

He had to constitute himself earlier telling fans: "How americium I expected to bash drama now? I can't judge you made maine cry."

It was the archetypal of 110 arena dates the Bolton prima volition execute implicit the adjacent two-and-a-half years.

He had been owed to spell connected circuit successful 2017, but cancelled that owed to "unforeseen household circumstances".

On Friday, helium showed astir 20,000 fans successful Manchester that helium was inactive the king of making america laughter astatine seemingly mean worldly that we each retrieve and subordinate to - and pointing retired the ridiculous things astir existent life.

That included jokes harking backmost to the adverts and TV taxable tunes of his childhood, moving successful a video store - and a regular putting a caller rotation connected his celebrated "garlic bread" catchphrase.

Arguably Britain's astir fashionable stand-up comedian, determination was immense request erstwhile tickets went connected merchantability past month.

He has made occasional unrecorded appearances since cancelling his past tour, but this acceptable of dates volition beryllium the archetypal clip astir fans person seen him unrecorded for much than a decade.

The 49-year-old volition play 41 much times astatine the Manchester venue, the biggest arena successful the UK, culminating with his last scheduled circuit day connected 25 July 2025.

The circuit volition spot him play 27 times astatine London's O2 arena - appearing determination erstwhile a period betwixt present and February 2025.

He volition besides sojourn cities including Birmingham, Sheffield, Leeds and Belfast. The full of 110 nights is lone conscionable abbreviated of the 113 dates helium played successful 2010-11, which broke the satellite grounds for the biggest-selling drama circuit ever, playing to much than 1.1 cardinal people.

This time, helium said helium decided to support the outgo of the cheapest seats astatine £35 - the aforesaid arsenic they were connected his past circuit - due to the fact that of the outgo of surviving crisis.

"You've got to conscionable radical halfway. It's atrocious times, positive that's wherefore radical request a laugh," helium precocious told BBC Radio 2's Zoe Ball. The outgo rises to £150, including fees, for the champion seats.