Peter Kay was left in tears as the crowd gave him a standing ovation (Picture: MEN Media)
Peter Kay was overcome with emotion as he took to the stage for his first stand-up gig in 12 years.
The comedian embarked on his mega 110-date tour in Manchester’s AO Arena, performing to a sold-out venue 16 miles from his hometown of Bolton.
After so long away from the stage, it’s understandable why fans went wild for Peter as he walked on, giving him a standing ovation and raising the roof with their cheers.
Audience members chanted the comic’s name and gave him rapturous applause, resulting in the 49-year-old shedding a few tears.
‘Aw you’ll have me in bits,’ the loveable Car Share star said.
‘Lovely Manchester, you made me cry. I can’t believe I cried, where did it come from all that emotion?’
It was an emotional night for the Bolton Car Share star (Picture: Triangle News)
The comic was moved to tears after making his grand entrance (Picture: Triangle News)
Peter took a moment to compose himself (Picture: Triangle News)
In true Peter Kay style, the funnyman was sure to make a spectacular entrance, arriving in a spotlight silhouette like James Bond himself, before the curtain fell and the crowd went wild.
Taking to social media following the special gig, one fan hailed it a ‘privilege’ to be there.
‘What an absolute privilege to be there for Peter Kay’s return to the big stage. He got a standing ovation for his entrance and was reduced to tears, never seen anything like it. No spoilers, just a superb night’, they wrote on Twitter.
‘Peter Kay. Hasn’t lost it. So many years off stage, and he’s still absolutely hilarious. Cheeks hurt from laughing’, praised another.
Peter earned wild cheers and applause from the crowd (Picture: Triangle News)
A third emotional fan penned: ‘Peter Kay breaking down crying on stage when he got a standing ovation at the start of his gig was gut wrenching’.
Describing the show as ‘amazing’, another attendee teased a memorable ending for the show, but was sure not to give away any spoilers.
‘Well Peter Kay was amazing. A well deserved welcome back in Manchester. He was very emotional at the start. The whole show was hilarious and incredible. And that ending. I wish I could say but don’t want to spoilt it’, they tweeted.
The comedian hasn’t toured since 2010 (Picture: ShowBizIreland/Getty Images)
But, unsurprisingly, social media was also flooded with jealousy, after trying to get tickets for Peter’s shows was like competing in the actual Hunger Games.
He announced his tour during an ad break for I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! last month, after stepping away from the limelight due to personal reasons.
The tour is aptly named Better Late Than Never and marks his first since 2010, when Peter earned the Guinness World Record for the biggest-selling run of all time, playing to more than 1.2million people.
As well as promising fans a great night out, Peter also vowed to keep tickets as cheap as possible amid the cost of living crisis.
‘It’s good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy and if there’s ever a time people need a laugh it’s now,’ he said at the time.
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‘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.’
Peter will play a second show in Manchester tomorrow night (Saturday) before heading to London’s O2 Arena and cities including Birmingham, Liverpool, and Leeds in January.
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It was an emotional night for Peter.
