peter kay tour early release tickets

Peter Kay announces more tour dates: Here are the venues and sale date so you don’t miss out

By natalie zamora | dec 14, 2022.

Peter Kay’s been on top of the world since he finally returned to the spotlight after a years-long break, and his current comedy tour proves just that. As fans of the English comedian will remember, he famously canceled his standup gigs in 2017 to be with his family and was rarely seen in the media after that. Well, whatever happened, we’re glad he’s in a better place now and is performing once again!

His fans were absolutely thrilled when the 49-year-old Car Share star announced a comeback tour this year, and it looks like he seriously underestimated his popularity because the shows have been selling out left and right! In November in anticipation of his gigs, fans went to the O2 Priority site to purchase pre-sale tickets, but were super frustrated when the site crashed! That forced Kay to add more tour dates , and now, he’s done the same thing again!

This is great news for fans who have still been unable to nab tickets to see the one and only Peter Kay on stage in the flesh. So here’s what you need to know if you’re in that boat.

How to buy Peter Kay comedy tour tickets

According to the site Planet Radio , Kay’s tour began in early December 2022 and is now already scheduled to run through 2025! He’s added a handful of shows in the UK through November 2025. See the newly-announced shows below:

• Sunday, January 29, 2023: Glasgow’s OVO Hydro
• Monday, January 30, 2023: Newcastle’s Utilita Arena
• Friday, October 6, 2023: Birmingham’s Utilita Arena
• Friday, November 17, 2023: Sheffield’s Utilita Arena
• Saturday, December 2, 2023: Manchester’s AO Arena
• Friday, December 15, 2023: Leeds’ First Direct Arena
• Thursday, March 20, 2025: London’s The O2
• Monday, October 6, 2025: Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena
• Saturday, October 22, 2025: Liverpool’s M&S Bank Arena

To purchase tickets to see Kay in his newly-added shows, they go on sale this Sunday, December 11 at 10:00 a.m.

Check out the full calendar of Kay’s standup shows through 2025 here .

Fingers crossed you’re able to purchase a ticket and will be marking your calendars for when you’ll see the famous funnyman perform!

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Peter Kay announces first comedy live tour in 12 years with hilarious video

6 November 2022, 23:13

By Tom Eames

Peter Kay is back! The beloved stand-up comedian has announced his return to live comedy.

Peter Kay has confirmed a huge UK tour from late 2022 to the first half of 2023.

The Bolton comic was originally scheduled to tour the UK back in 2017, but had to cancel due to “unforeseen circumstances”.

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Peter has now announced a series of arena dates, that begin as early as next month, and will run through to the first half of 2023, ending in August.

“It’s good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy,” Peter Kay said in a statement, “and if there’s ever a time people need a laugh it’s now.”

Peter Kay announces his first new live stand-up tour in 12 years! Tickets go on sale 10am Saturday 12th November at https://t.co/EVCiTLh3J7 pic.twitter.com/lJBK8R8Y8I — Peter Kay (@peterkay_co_uk) November 6, 2022

He added: “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.”

Tickets go on sale here on Saturday, November 12, from 10am.

The full dates are:

DECEMBER 2022 2 – Manchester, AO Arena 3 – Manchester, AO Arena 17 – Birmingham, Utilita Arena

JANUARY 2023 6 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena 7 – Liverpool, M&S Bank Arena 20 – Leeds, First Direct Arena

FEBRUARY 2023 17 – Sheffield, Utilita Arena 23 – Belfast, SSE Arena 24 – Belfast, SSE Arena

MARCH 2023 9 – Newcastle, Utilita Arena 10 – Newcastle, Utilita Arena 23 – Birmingham, Resorts World Arena

APRIL 2023 7 – Dublin, 3Arena 5 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro 6 – Glasgow, OVO Hydro

MAY 2023 19 – Leeds, First Direct Arena

JUNE 2023 16 – Cardiff, International Arena 17 – Cardiff, International Arena

JULY 2023 14 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena 15 – Nottingham, Motorpoint Arena

AUGUST 2023 11 – Sheffield, Utilita Arena

Peter Kay has only made small public appearances after the cancellation of his stand-up tour in 2017.

At the time, a statement announcing the tour’s cancellation read: “Due to unforeseen family circumstances, I deeply regret that I am having to cancel all of my upcoming work projects. This unfortunately includes my upcoming stand-up tour, Dance For Life shows and any outstanding live work commitments.

“My sincerest apologies. This decision has not been taken lightly and I’m sure you’ll understand my family must always come first.

“I’ve always endeavoured to protect my family’s privacy from the media. I hope that the media and public will continue to respect my privacy at this time. Once again, I’m very sorry.”

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You’ll Have To Act Fast If You Want Peter Kay Tour Tickets

The return of the garlic bread king is a hotly-anticipated event.

Beloved comedian, and all-round TV icon , Peter Kay has announced that he’s going back on tour . It’s been over a decade since Kay has entertained the masses, having put on his last collection of shows in 2010. That particular run earned him the Guinness World Record for the biggest-selling stand-up tour of all time , having sold over a million tickets for 113 dates.

Kay’s upcoming tour will be much smaller overall, however there’s an extra special addition to the schedule, as Kay has now revealed he’ll be doing a monthly residency at London’s O2 Arena. “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 ,” Kay said. “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.” Kay’s Better Late Than Never tour kicks off this December, starting in Manchester before making his way across the UK. Here’s everything you need to know before buying tickets for Kay’s hotly-anticipated comeback.

Where Is Peter Kay Touring?

The comedian will play shows across the UK , in addition to gigs in Dublin and Belfast. Kay will play double dates in Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow, Nottingham, and Cardiff, in addition to three dates in Sheffield.

2 & 3 December – AO Arena, Manchester

17 December – Utilita Arena, Birmingham

6 & 7 January – M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

20 January – First Direct Arena, Leeds

17 February – Utilita Arena, Sheffield

23 & 24 February – SSE Arena, Belfast

9 & 10 March – Utilita Arena, Newcastle

23 March – Resorts World Arena, Birmingham

6 & 7 April – 3Arena, Dublin

5 & 6 May – OVO Hydro, Glasgow

19 May – First Direct Arena, Leeds

16 & 17 June – Cardiff International Arena, Cardiff

14 & 15 July – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

11 August – Utilita Arena, Sheffield

Peter Kay’s Monthly Residency At London’s O2

When the beloved comedian revealed the dates and locations for his upcoming UK tour, London-based fans were disheartened to have been skipped . But it turns out, Kay had bigger plans in mind for the capital city. During an appearance on The Zoe Ball Breakfast Show, the comedian announced a monthly residency at London’s O2 Arena from Dec. 16, 2022 to Nov. 18, 2023.

“Of course I’m not going to not do London,” he said. With this move, Kay becomes the first artist in history to perform monthly at London’s O2 for a whole year. The artist also expressed gratitude for fans, who welcomed his decade-late tour with warmth: “ Huw Edwards is going to queue up for tickets… Him? I cannot get my head (around) it.”

Where Can I Buy Peter Kay Tickets?

Tickets for Kay’s tour will be very popular, so it’s imperative to act fast. The comedian had planned to do shows in 2018 , but had to cancel due to family matters. However, he briefly appeared at a benefit concert marking the reopening of the Manchester Arena following the terrorist attack in May 2017, in addition to a couple of shows in 2021. Both shows at the Manchester O2 Apollo sold out within 30 minutes , so you better be prepared at 10 a.m. on November 12 when tickets for his upcoming tour go on sale. Tickets will start at £35, the same amount as during Kay’s 2010 tour, and there will be no pre-sale.

Tickets will be available via Ticketmaster UK , Ticketmaster IE , Gigs and Tours , and Kay’s website .

This article was originally published on November 8, 2022

How to get early access to Peter Kay tickets as comedian goes on tour

It will be his first live tour since 2010

• 09:09, 7 NOV 2022
• Updated 12:47, 7 NOV 2022

Peter Kay has announced his return to stand-up comedy with his first live tour in 12 years. It will be his first live tour since 2010, when he scored the Guinness World Record for the biggest-selling run of all time, playing to more than 1.2 million people.

His comeback was announced during an advertisement break in the series launch of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! on ITV. He said: “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.

“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.”

Kay will begin his tour on December 2 at the Manchester AO Arena before visiting locations including Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow and Dublin. His run will end on August 11 2023 at the Sheffield Utilita Arena.

Following the announcement, Kay’s official website appeared to crash briefly under increased online traffic. A poster for the event featured Kay holding a sign reading, “Better late than never” and described a ticket to his shows as an “ideal Christmas gift”.

Kay returned to the stage in August 2021 for two special charity events to raise money for Laura Nuttall, a then 20-year-old with an aggressive type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme.

There was also a brief return in January 2021 when he appeared on BBC Radio 2 to chat to Cat Deeley – who was filling in after Graham Norton left the station – about his love of music, mixtapes and the musical Mamma Mia. He also made a surprise appearance at a charity screening of his series Car Share in 2018.

Kay cancelled his last tour in December 2017, citing “unforeseen family circumstances”. Over the last few years, Kay has delighted fans with his hit Bafta-winning TV series Car Share and stand-up routines.

Tickets go on sale November 12 at 10am .

Three is offering pre-sale ticket access to Peter Kay’s shows - via Three+, the mobile network’s rewards app. Three+ members get access to a limited number of tickets for Peter Kay at:

• AO Arena Manchester on Friday 2 nd and Saturday 3 rd December 2022
• first direct arena Leeds on Friday 20 th January and Friday 19 th May 2023
• Utilita Arena Newcastle on Thursday 9 th and Friday 10 th March 2023

The Three+ pre-sale tickets are on sale from 10am on Thursday 10 th November for up to 48 hours. The tickets will go on general sale from Saturday 12 th November.

To access this pre-sale ticket window, fans need to be a Three UK customer (Pay Monthly or Pay As You Go) and have downloaded and registered on the Three+ app before pre-sale opens.

Three+ is the rewards app from Three UK, with offers from leading brands across food and drink, entertainment, days out, wellbeing and shopping. The Three+ app is free to download for Three customers.

The pre-sale is part of a three-year partnership between Three UK and ASM Global, allowing the mobile network’s customers to access tickets for hundreds of live events at the AO Arena Manchester, first direct arena Leeds, P&J Live Aberdeen, Bonus Arena Hull and Utilita Arena Newcastle, before they go on general sale.

For more information visit www.three.co.uk/threeplus

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Peter Kay tour dates 2023: Full list of UK venues, how to get tickets and what we know about prices

The star comedian has vowed that ticket prices will be affordable amid the cost of living crisis.

Peter Kay has announced the news that he will be returning to stand-up comedy, 12 years after his last tour.

The beloved British comedian retreated from the public eye in recent years, cancelling his last tour in December 2017, citing “unforeseen family circumstances “.

However, the star announced his official comeback to stand-up during an ad break in the series launch of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! on ITV earlier this week.

Here’s everything you need to know about the new gigantic tour…

When and where will the tour take place?

Kay announced six new dates for the tour, which will span from this December to August 2023. It will be his first live tour since 2010, when he scored the Guinness World Record for the biggest-selling run of all time, playing to more than 1.2 million people.

Kay will begin on 2 December at Manchester AO Arena before visiting locations including Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield, Belfast, Newcastle, Glasgow and Dublin.

His run will end on 11 August 2023 at the Sheffield Utilita Arena. He has also announced a monthly residency at London’s O2 arena – the first comedian ever to do so.

Here are the national tour dates:

• Friday 2 December – Manchester AO Arena
• Saturday 3 December – Manchester AO Arena
• Saturday 17 December – Birmingham Utilita Arena
• Friday 6 January 2023 – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
• Saturday 7 January – Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
• Friday 20 January – Leeds First Direct Arena
• Friday 17 February – Sheffield Utilita Arena
• Thursday 23 February – Belfast SSE Arena
• Friday 24 February – Belfast SSE Arena
• Thursday 9 March – Newcastle Utilita Arena
• Friday 10 March – Newcastle Utilita Arena
• Thursday 23 March – Birmingham Resorts World Arena
• Thursday 6 April – Dublin 3Arena
• Friday 7 April – Dublin 3Arena
• Friday 5 May – Glasgow OVO Hydro
• Saturday 6 May – Glasgow OVO Hydro
• Friday 19 May – Leeds First Direct Arena
• Friday 16 June – Cardiff International Arena
• Saturday 17 June – Cardiff International Arena
• Friday 14 July – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
• Saturday 15 July – Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
• Friday 11 August – Sheffield Utilita Arena

Here are the London O2 dates:

• Friday 16 December
• Saturday 21 January 2023
• Saturday 18 February
• Wednesday 22 March
• Saturday 22 April
• Saturday 3 June
• Wednesday 30 August
• Saturday 9 September
• Saturday 7 October
• Saturday 18 November

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When do Peter Kay tickets go on sale?

Tickets go on general sale on Saturday 12 November at 10am through Ticketmaster . However, O2 Priority and Three+ customers were offered the chance to purchase pre-sale tickets from 10am on Thursday 10 November.

How much will Peter Kay tickets cost?

Kay confirmed that tickets would not be out of people’s reach. He said: “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.”

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Peter Kay tour 2023: Venues, dates and tickets revealed

7 November 2022, 10:52 | Updated: 9 November 2022, 09:24

Peter Kay announces first stand-up tour in 12 years

How to get Peter Kay tour 2023 tickets: The comedian's website crashed after he announced his first stand up shows in 12 years.

Peter Kay has brought the internet to a stand still after he announced his return to stand-up.

The comedian hasn’t fronted a stand up show since he cancelled his 2017 tour due to "unforeseen family circumstances".

Revealing his return to the stage, Peter also posted a hilarious clip of him moving a rug while discussing the upcoming tour.

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The 49-year-old added: "It's good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy."

His comeback was announced during an advert break in the series launch of ITV's I'm A Celebrity and sent fans into meltdown.

So much so, that the website to buy tickets actually crashed just minutes after the news was revealed.

"These will fly out quicker than Glastonbury tickets," wrote one person on Twitter, while another said: "Your websites crashed already [laughing emoji] welcome back."

A third added: "Best news ever! Welcome back!,” while a fourth said: “This is AMAZING news . . . So happy.”

Here’s all the details you need to know:

Peter Kay tour 2023 dates:

• Fri 02 December 2022 Manchester AO Arena
• Sat 03 December 2022 Manchester AO Arena
• Sat 17 December 2022 Birmingham Utilita Arena
• Fri 06 January 2023 Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
• Sat 07 January 2023 Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
• Fri 20 January 2023 Leeds First Direct Arena
• Fri 17 February 2023 Sheffield Utilita Arena
• Thu 23 February 2023 Belfast SSE Arena
• Fri 24 February 2023 Belfast SSE Arena
• Thu 09 March 2023 Newcastle Utilita Arena
• Fri 10 March 2023 Newcastle Utilita Arena
• Thu 23 March 2023 Birmingham Resorts World Arena
• Thu 06 April 2023 Dublin 3Arena
• Fri 07 April 2023 Dublin 3Arena
• Fri 05 May 2023 Glasgow OVO Hydro
• Sat 06 May 2023 Glasgow OVO Hydro
• Fri 19 May 2023 Leeds First Direct Arena
• Fri 16 June 2023 Cardiff International Arena
• Sat 17 June 2023 Cardiff International Arena
• Fri 14 July 2023 Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
• Sat 15 July 2023 Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
• Fri 11 August 2023 Sheffield Utilita Arena

Peter Kay London tour dates

Peter Kay is doing a monthly residency at the O2 as part of his huge comeback tour.

His first date begins on Friday 16th December and he will go on to perform 21st January, 18th February, 22nd March and 22nd April.

This will run each month until Saturday 18th November 2023.

How to get Peter Kay priority tickets:

Tickets are scheduled to go on sale on Saturday, November 12, at 10am.

Prices will start at £35 (Not including fees) and could rise to £135 for the Best Seat Package.

Tickets may also be bought for Peter Kay’s nationwide tour via www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

All prices include admin fee and there will also be a handling fee of £2.50 will be added to each order.

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Peter Kay tickets: How to get them and what time they go on sale

Find out how to get tickets to see the comedian in 2022 and 2023

• 15:33, 9 NOV 2022
• Updated 07:14, 12 NOV 2022

Peter Kay has delighted fans by announcing his first tour in 12 years and demand is expected to be very high for tickets. The Bolton comedian will be coming to Leeds later this year.

While the comedian has a huge, admiring fan base desperate to purchase tickets for the upcoming tour, still the question being asked is how much will the tickets be? While nothing is yet confirmed, the funny man has stated that prices will be the same as they were from his previous tour in 2010.

Speaking of the 12-date tour, Kay said: "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. 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."

Read more: Peter Kay comeback tour tickets website crashes as comedian announces first stand up shows in 12 years

Tickets are to go on sale on Saturday, November 12 at 10am via Ticketmaster and See Tickets . Kay will play to millions of fans on his Peter Kay Live Tour which will begin at Manchester's AO Arena and come to Leeds on January 20 and May 19.

Other crowds set to enjoy the Car Share star's side splitting, upcoming set include Liverpool, Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds , Sheffield, Cardiff, Dublin, Glasgow, Belfast and Nottingham. Scroll down below to see his full tour dates.

There is a way for fans to get early access to tickets though before the general sale starts on Saturday, November 12 at 10am.

How to get tickets for Peter Kay's new tour

Fans who aren't with Three Mobile can still get tickets in the general sale which will take place on Saturday November 12 at 10am via Ticketmaster and See Tickets , and the Ticket Factory .

Friday, December 2 - Manchester AO Arena

Saturday, December 3 - Manchester AO Arena

Saturday, December 17 - Birmingham Utilita Arena

Friday, January 6 - Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

Saturday, January 7 - Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

Friday, January 20 - Leeds First Direct Arena

Friday, February 17 - Sheffield Utilita Arena

Thursday, February 23 - Belfast SSE Arena

Friday, February 24 - Belfast SSE Arena

Thursday, March 9 - Newcastle Utilita Arena

Friday, March 10 - Newcastle Utilita Arena

Thursday, March 23 - Birmingham Resorts World Arena

Thursday, April 6 - Dublin 3Arena

Friday, April 7 - Dublin 3Arena

Friday, May 5 - Glasgow OVO Hydro

Saturday, May 6 - Glasgow OVO Hydro

Friday, May 19 - Leeds First Direct Arena

Friday, June 16 - Cardiff International Arena

Saturday, June 17 - Cardiff International Arena

Friday, July 14 - Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

Saturday, July 15 - Nottingham Motorpoint Arena

Friday, August 11 - Sheffield Utilita Arena

You can find the latest news about events happening in Yorkshire and nearby by visiting our What's On homepage . There you can also find days out guides for things to do across the region.

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Peter Kay ticket price, pre-sale and everything you need to know following tour announcement

Pre-sale tickets for the Peter Kay live tour go on sale soon

• 11:11, 7 NOV 2022
• Updated 12:35, 10 NOV 2022

Comedy icon Peter Kay has announced a huge UK 2022-23 tour after a 12 year break from stand up.

The popular comedian will visit the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool on Friday, January 6 and Saturday, January 7 2023 as part of a big UK tour that will visit cities such as Manchester, Birmingham and Leeds. Announcing the big news on Facebook to his 2.8m followers, he said: "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.

“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."

READ MORE: Peter Kay announces first stand-up tour in 12 years with Liverpool show

Full dates include:

• Friday December 2, 2022 Manchester AO Arena
• Saturday December 3, 2022 Manchester AO Arena
• Saturday December 17, 2022 Birmingham Utilita Arena
• Friday January 6, 2023 Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
• Saturday January 7, 2023 Liverpool M&S Bank Arena
• Friday January 20, 2023 Leeds First Direct Arena
• Friday February 17, 2023 Sheffield Utilita Arena
• Thursday February 23. 2023 Belfast SSE Arena
• Friday February 24, 2023 Belfast SSE Arena
• Thursday March 9, 2023 Newcastle Utilita Arena
• Friday March 10, 2023 Newcastle Utilita Arena
• Thursday March 23, 2023 Birmingham Resorts World Arena
• Thursday April 6, 2023 Dublin 3Arena
• Friday April 7, 2023 Dublin 3Arena
• Friday May 5, 2023 Glasgow OVO Hydro
• Saturday May 6, 2023 Glasgow OVO Hydro
• Friday May 19, 2023 Leeds First Direct Arena
• Friday June 16, 2023 Cardiff International Arena
• Saturday June 17 2023 Cardiff International Arena
• Friday July 14, 2023 Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
• Saturday July 15, 2023 Nottingham Motorpoint Arena
• Friday August 11, 2023 Sheffield Utilita Arena

How to get pre-sale tickets

02 Priority tickets will be available to 02 customers and will go on sale at 10am this Thursday November 10. You can view the full list of dates through 02 priority here.

You must ensure you are signed in via the 02 app or online to get access to the presale tickets. We'd advise to get onto the app nice and early before 10am to be prepared.

How to get general sale tickets

General tickets will go on sale this Saturday November 12 at 10am. Tickets will be available to purchase via See Tickets and Ticketmaster. Peter Kay tickets will also be available to purchase through the M&S Bank Arena website , where you can set up an alert to remind you about the ticket sale.

How much will the tickets cost for Peter Kay's 2022 tour

In a quote shared to Facebook, popular comedian Peter Kay has said that ticket prices will start from £35. These tickets will be the same price as his tickets were back in 2010.

According to the See Tickets website, tickets will start at £35, then go up to £41, £50, £58, £65 and £74 depending on where you choose to sit. There is also a 'best seat ticket package' available for £135 which includes the top price seat for the show, a limited edition Peter Kay gift, a show programme and a Peter Kay VIP laminate and lanyard. You can purchase your tickets through See Tickets here and Ticketmaster here.

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Record-breaking comedian Peter Kay announces extra dates to already huge tour

Kay is a Guinness World Record holder for the biggest-selling live comedy run of all time - playing to a total of 1.2 million people.

Thursday 8 December 2022 19:55, UK

Comedian Peter Kay has announced extra dates for his already huge live tour.

Kay was brought to tears on the opening night of his first live comedy tour in 12 years last Friday - the first in a lengthy arena tour spanning from December to late 2023.

For the last four years before the shows had kicked off, the 49-year-old had been largely absent from the public eye.

In 2017, he sparked headlines when he cancelled his last 14-month tour at short notice due to "unforeseen family circumstances".

He announced the extra shows on BBC Radio on Thursday.

He said: "First of all, I want to say thanks to everyone who's bought tickets to my tour, and I really do appreciate it.

"We've finally managed to book some more extra dates."

Tickets will go on sale this Sunday from 10am for shows in cities including Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Birmingham, Glasgow and a 28th night at London's O2 Arena.

O2 was forced to apologise after its priority ticket website offering customers early access to the first tranche of the Phenix Nights star's tour tickets crashed due to "extraordinary demand".

As part of the gig series, Kay will be performing a monthly residency at London's O2 Arena, the first artist in the world to do so.

In 2010, Kay gained the Guinness World Record for the biggest-selling run of all time - playing to a total of 1.2 million people.

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Peter Kay tour adds extra dates for Manchester, Leeds & Birmingham - but no news for Nottingham

There's been a 'huge' demand for tickets

• 15:53, 10 NOV 2022

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The demand for Peter Kay's first tour in 12 years has been 'huge' - and the Bolton comedian has now announced more dates. New dates have been added in cities including Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham but the brains behind Phoenix Nights has yet to confirm any more nights at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena , where he will perform on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15, next year.

Organisers expected high demand for tickets - and they were on the money. Pre-sale tickets went live on Thursday (November 10) but many fans have been having trouble accessing apps and websites.

Virgin Media, O2 and Three customers were offered early bird tickets two days early. O2 and Virgin - which are part of the same company - said it was the highest demand there'd been for priority tickets in 15 years. And Three added there'd been "a huge demand".

Read more: Peter Kay at Nottingham Motorpoint Arena - ticket prices, dates and how to get tickets

Four new extra dates have been added at the Utilita Arena in Birmingham. The Car Share star will be performing there on Friday, April 21, Friday, June 2, Friday, July 28, and Tuesday, August 29. It adds to the two dates originally announced in the West Midlands county, at the same arena on Saturday, December 17, and Tuesday, March 23, at Resorts World Arena.

Seven extra dates have been added to Manchester's AO Arena - on September 22, September 23, October 19, October 20, November 5, November 6 and December 1. Kay will also be performing one extra show at Leeds First Direct Arena, in light of the huge demand for his comeback tour. He will now perform there on September 8, in addition to the pre-existing dates on January 20 and May 19.

In 2010, Kay - also much-loved for Phoenix Nights spin off Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere, in which he co-starred with close friend and fellow Bolton comedian Paddy McGuinness - set a world record for the biggest-selling comedy tour, playing to more than 1.2m people.

And he could well break his own record this time around. The comeback tour comes after he cancelled a string of shows, set to take place in 2019, due to "unforeseen family circumstances". He had been due to play five times in Nottingham then and the tour was cancelled in 2017.

Ticket prices for the upcoming tour start from £35, not inclusive of a booking fee. Tickets go on general sale on Saturday (November 12) at 10am.

Officials from Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena said: "Due to high demand, the on sale for this event will be incredibly busy. For your best chance of securing tickets, please purchase online if possible. Please do not try to purchase tickets at the venue, as our Box Office is closed for in-person sales."

How to get early access to Peter Kay tickets as comedian goes on tour

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Read more what's on news for Nottinghamshire

• Most Recent

How to get Peter Kay tickets today as new tour dates go on sale including Manchester date

Find out the exact ticket queues to join today as online sales start at 10am

• 06:00, 11 DEC 2022
• Updated 10:49, 11 DEC 2022

Earlier this week Peter Kay announced the release of extra tour dates taking the total number of his 'Better Late Than Never' shows to an incredible 121. Tickets to the extra dates go on sale today (Sunday, December 11) at 10am, and here's how fans can get tickets.

More than 12 years after his last tour Peter Kay kickstarted his 'Better Late Than Never Tour' at the Manchester AO Arena last week, to the first of many sell-out crowds. Coming back with his punchy one-liners the Bolton comedian recieved an emotional standing ovation, marking his return to stand-up.

His comeback has been met with increasing demand, original ticket sales saw queue's of more than 400,000 people for each venue which left many fans missing out on securing tickets. Today extra dates will go on sale for cities including Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield and Glasgow, 11 in total.

READ MORE: I missed out on Peter Kay tickets and 2025 is the next available date I can get

With more than 100 shows across the UK between 2022 and 2025, Peter Kay has added another Manchester night for 2023 on Saturday December 2 , which fans can buy tickets for today on Ticketmaster. Fans are urged to join Ticketmaster's 'waiting room' at 9:45am today, which automatically puts you in the online queue as soon as 10am hits.

As well as buying tickets through Ticketmaster fans can also join queue's for the December 2, 2023 date on See Tickets. Joining both online retailer queue's will only boost your chances of getting tickets.

Fans who use Three as a mobile provider can also buy tickets through the Three+ rewards app on Ticketmaster, although it is not a pre-sale as the sale times are the same, starting at 10am today.

As well as Manchester, extra shows have been added in nearby cities including Leeds, Sheffield and Birmingham. To make the most of the extra dates we recommend fans choosing another venue, just in case Manchester sells out quickly (which is highly likely).

With more than 100 Peter Kay dates on Ticketmaster and See Tickets it may be hard to find the newly added tickets on sale today, in and amongst the already sold-out shows. Below are the new dates with links to the direct ticket queue's.

Newly added Peter Kay shows

Sunday January 29- OVO Hyrdo, Glasgow

Monday January 30 - Utilita Arena, Newcastle

Friday October 6 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham

Friday November 17 - Utilita Arena, Sheffield

Saturday December 2 - AO Arena, Manchester

Friday December 15 - First Direct Arena, Leeds

Thursday March 20 - O2 Arena, London

July 12 - 3 Arena, Dublin

August 9 - SSE Arena, Belfast

Monday October 6 - Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham

Saturday November 22 - M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool

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• Most Recent

Peter Kay early access tickets RECAP - O2 Priority app crashes and more Birmingham dates added

You can get early access tickets for Peter Kay's tour this morning - through O2 and Three

• Updated 15:59, 10 NOV 2022

Peter Kay has delighted fans across the country after announcing a huge new UK tour - his first live tour since 2010. The comedian sent the internet into meltdown when he announced his Better Late Than Never tour on Sunday night.

Peter Kay will perform at Birmingham's Utilita Arena next month just before Christmas . Before he returns to the city once again in March, for a show at Resorts World Arena .

It was announced further dates had been added to Utilita Arena too next year on April 21; June 2; July 28; and August 29.

Read more: Peter Kay tour tickets in Birmingham - how to buy tickets

The comedian will also perform in Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffield, Cardiff, Dublin and more. While general sale tickets will not be available until 10am on Saturday, November 12 - Peter Kay fans can get early access tickets this morning.

There's two early access ticket sales running for Peter Kay's tour - starting today, Thursday, November 10, at 10am. But fans have to be either an O2 or Three Mobile customer, or know someone who is.

However the pre-sale has descended into chaos after the O2 Priority app and website crashed with over half an hour to go before tickets went on sale. Stay with us as we bring you all the action as it happens. Pre-sale tickets are being directed to Ticketmaster .

To receive FREE updates about the Peter Kay tour and other upcoming events in Birmingham sign up here .

• All the Birmingham tour dates 11:04
• If you struggle to get tickets today... 10:28
• O2 say it is "highest demand" they have seen in 15 years 10:04

Thanks for joining us!

That concludes our live coverage of the early access sale for Peter Kay tickets. Don't forget the O2 presale runs for 48 hours - so there's still time to get tickets.

But general sale tickets will launch at 10am on Saturday, November 12. For the Birmingham shows, you can get the tickets direct from the two venues' official box office, The Ticket Factory .

The Ticket Factory website also has a page set up with everything you need to know about tickets, here . You can also sign up to be a Superfan Club Member which allows you to purchase four tickets 15 minutes before general sale. You can find out more about membership by clicking here .

Tickets for the Birmingham dates, and elsewhere, will also be available through See Tickets and Ticketmaster .

Thank you so much for following and sticking with us throughout the day. We hope you managed to get the tickets you wanted today and if not, good luck for Saturday's general sale!

The Ticket Factory's general sale starts at 10am Saturday

If you've missed out on the early access tickets today - don't forget general sale tickets for both Birmingham dates, and elsewhere across the UK go on sale at 10am this Saturday, November 12.

For the Birmingham shows, you can get the tickets direct from the two venues' official box office, The Ticket Factory .

Tickets will be avaialble for all five dates of at Utilita Arena and Resorts World Arena.

Here's all the dates on Peter Kay's tour taking place in Birmingham

Saturday, December 17, 2022 - Birmingham Utilita Arena

Thursday, March 23, 2023 - Birmingham Resorts World Arena

• Friday, April 21, 2023 - Utilita Arena Birmingham
• Friday, June 2, 2023 - Utilita Arena Birmingham
• Friday, July 28, 2023 - Utilita Arena Birmingham
• Tuesday, August 29, 2023 - Utilita Arena Birmingham

Read more: Peter Kay adds extra Birmingham dates to his huge UK comedy tour

Four hours later...

Some people are still struggling with the O2 early access tickets.

@O2 tickets been on sale for 4 hours now and I still can’t get on. Embarrassing #peterkay — Adam Stride (@Adam_J_Stride) November 10, 2022

'Have you any tickets going mate?'

One fan has gone to Peter Kay direct - asking if there's any tickets left. Jen tweeted Peter Kay's official Twitter account this afternoon.

She said she was looking for two tickets in Birmingham and "isn't fussed with seats". She signed off saying "Thanks pal, have a gooden".

@peterkay_co_uk Hiya! Its quicker to ask you if you’ve got any tickets going mate? Right shambles over here. If so, let me know how much. Two for the Birmingham shows, not fussed with seats, was hoping to buy front row but will sit on roof if needed. Thanks pal, have a gooden x — Jen (@JenGaddy15) November 10, 2022

Our tips on how to get Peter Kay tickets

Whether you're trying for early access tickets today, or you'll be logging in on Saturday to get your hands on tickets for Peter Kay's shows in Birmingham. We know it can be stressful!

But what are the best tips for getting your hands on the elusive tickets? We've put together a handy guide on our top tips for getting them, here .

Some O2 customers are still struggling to get tickets though

While some people are having some success in getting tickets for Peter Kay. Others are still struggling to get through on O2 Priority.

How do I have an O2 account and a virgin media account and still can’t get onto O2 priority 3 hours later for Peter Kay tickets???? @O2PriorityUK @virginmedia — Gemma Arnold (@GemmaArnold) November 10, 2022

Fed the baby twice, changed 2 nappies & now onto a contact nap but still haven’t got through to @O2 priority website for @peterkay_co_uk tickets #multitasking — Annie Kelly (@AnnieKelly___) November 10, 2022

More fans are getting hold of Brum tickets

Managed to get @peterkay_co_uk tickets for the second time in a row!! Gutted that it was cancelled last time! Super excited! See you in Birmingham #garlicbread — Daniel Aitken (@aaiikkzz) November 10, 2022

Finally after nearly 3 hours I’ve managed to get 5th row seats at Birmingham for Peter Kay. Keep faith people, there are tickets still out there!! — Poppy90 (@Poppy90D10) November 10, 2022

Managed #PeterKay tickets for Birmingham, not quite sure how I did it, 5 seats and 5 very happy faces now.....via #gigsandtours web page — SHSP (@PiccaveySimon) November 10, 2022

I got my dad 2 tickets in block C for Peter Kay in Birmingham yay — Rachel (@RachelxOliver1d) November 10, 2022

Yes Damian!

Yes!!! Not sure how i done it but #PeterKay tickets sorted for Birmingham next year!!!! pic.twitter.com/UuSv0Cs97b — Damian Gear (@Mr_Gear7) November 10, 2022

Reminder: General sale tickets on sale on Saturday

For the Birmingham shows, you can get the tickets direct from the two venues' official box office, The Ticket Factory . The Ticket Factory website also has a page set up with everything you need to know about tickets, here . You can also sign up to be a Superfan Club Member which allows you to purchase four tickets 15 minutes before general sale. You can find out more about membership by clicking here .

O2 says.... keep trying

O2 are telling their customers to "keep trying". The presale does last for 48 hours for those who are yet to be successful.

On Twitter, O2 said: "We are seeing lots of Priority Tickets being sold for Peter Kay to O2 and Virgin Media customers right across the UK. Apologies if you’ve not been successful yet but do keep trying. Our presale lasts for up to 48 hours."

We are seeing lots of Priority Tickets being sold for Peter Kay to O2 and Virgin Media customers right across the UK. Apologies if you’ve not been successful yet but do keep trying. Our presale lasts for up to 48 hours. — O2 (@O2) November 10, 2022

Tickets being relisted on selling websites for up to £1,000!

Fans have been left furious after Peter Kay tickets have already made their way onto reselling websites. The comedian's tickets came out on Thursday, but left fans livid after O2 crashed.

Now, BirminghamLive has seen tickets listed for £1,000 on Viagogo . There are also tickets being sold for £200 - five times face value - on StubHub.

Read more: Peter Kay tickets being sold for £1,000 after pre-sale O2 crash

Ten hilarious jokes from Peter Kay that kids these days wouldn't understand

Giving your mum three rings? Payphones and landlines?

And what about taping the top 40? We take a look back at some of his most famous sketches and jokes - but would they be lost altogether on the younger generations? You can find our round-up, here .

Some interesting advice here...

A good tip here on Twitter. Has anyone else tried it? Does it work?

Let us know if you've had any luck in getting tickets. O2 Priority still isn't working for us however.

Guys, I just got 2 tickets but not through @o2 . Go to gigsandtours website, find the date and venue you want. Now click the website url, and add on the end of it: ?pre=o2pk And that for me opened up the tickets and let me buy them. #O2Priority #peterkay — Ross (@RossKyleJohnson) November 10, 2022

Our top tips on getting tickets

Whether you're trying for early access tickets today, or you'll be logging in on Saturday to get your hands on tickets for Peter Kay's shows in Birmingham. Today has certainly been stressful enough...

All the Birmingham tour dates

Following on from the earlier announcements of extra dates in Birmingham, here are the full list of dates:

Fans are getting tickets

Some fans seem to be having more luck getting tickets through Gigs and Tours . We still however can't get through on O2 Priority.

Tickets already been resold on Viagogo

Tickets are already making their way onto ticket reselling websites less than an hour after early access started. We have seen tickets for both the original Birmingham dates appear on Viagogo.

For the Utilita Arena show on December 17 two tickets are already priced at £1,036 each! Just crazy prices!

Most expensive on the website currently for the March date at Resorts World Arena are listed as £531 each.

More dates added

It appears more Birmingham dates have been added for Peter Kay's tour:

• Friday, April 21 - Utilita Arena Birmingham
• Friday, June 2 - Utilita Arena Birmingham
• Friday, July 28 - Utilita Arena Birmingham
• Tuesday, August 29 - Utilita Arena Birmingham

If you struggle to get tickets today...

General sale tickets for both Birmingham dates, and elsewhere across the UK go on sale at 10am this Saturday, November 12. For the Birmingham shows, you can get the tickets direct from the two venues' official box office, The Ticket Factory .

People are starting to get through on O2 Priority

Looks like O2 Priority is starting to kick into action 20 minutes after tickets went on sale. But there are huge queues.

Finally got in through o2 priority only to hit a massive queue #peterkay #o2 #priority pic.twitter.com/pCWQBh60da — Chris (@grouseuk_f1) November 10, 2022

Seems like someone's O2 app is working though....

Just got 6 tickets for Peter Kay’s new tour! Thanks o2 priority! First time I’ve ever used the app — Harvey Elliot Fan Club (@libpool1892) November 10, 2022

Anyone managed to get on O2 Priority yet?

We keep trying through the app - but still nothing!

A Virgin Media O2 statement has been issued

Virgin Media O2 has sent BirminghamLive an updated statement in relation to the pre-sale tickets for Peter Kay.

A Virgin Media O2 spokesperson said: “We’ve seen unprecedented levels of visitors to our Priority platform for Peter Kay tickets. As a result, some customers are experiencing difficulties trying to use the app and website despite us putting additional resource in place to help cope with such demand.

"We apologise and we’re doing everything we can to get it back up and running as soon as possible.”

O2 say it is "highest demand" they have seen in 15 years

O2 say the pre-sale is the "highest demand" they have seen for Priority tickets in 15 years. They have urged customers to be patient - adding that the pre-sale lasts for 48 hours.

Their statement 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."

PRE-SALE TICKETS ARE LIVE NOW

But shame the O2 app still isn't working hey? Let us know if you get through!

Less than 5 minutes to go....

And we still can't get onto O2 Priority - can you? The Three presale seems to be coping with demand - but it doesn't include any of the Birmingham shows.

O2 haven't issued any further updates apart from to say they were experiencing "extraordinary demand".

Read more: O2 issue statement over Peter Kay tour ticket pre-sale chaos

If you miss out on early access tickets...

There's still chance to get tickets! General sale tickets for both Birmingham dates, and elsewhere across the UK go on sale at 10am this Saturday, November 12.

Ticket prices (if we can get them)

After he first announced the tour, Peter Kay revealed he would be keeping the cost of tickets low due to the cost of living crisis. He added that tickets would start from £35 - in line with his 2010 tour ticket prices.

He said: "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. 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."

See Tickets - which will release tickets as part of the general sale on Saturday - has set price brackets at £41.25, £57.75 and £74.25 for the Utilita Arena show on December 17. A Peter Kay Live - Best Seat Ticket Package which includes a top price seated ticket, limited edition gift, show programme and VIP laminate and lanyard costs £151. All prices include booking fee.

O2 responds to problems with early access tickets

O2 have taken to Twitter to say they are "seeing extraordinary demand for Peter Kay". They have asked fans to be patient.

Their full tweet said: "We’re seeing extraordinary demand for Peter Kay. We know customers are struggling to get on to our Priority website and app before 10am, we're working on it. Please be patient, thank you."

We’re seeing extraordinary demand for Peter Kay. We know customers are struggling to get on to our Priority website and app before 10am, we're working on it. Please be patient, thank you. — O2 (@O2) November 10, 2022

• Utilita Arena Birmingham
• Resorts World Arena
• Most Recent

New arena postpones Peter Kay's opening shows

The new Co-op Live arena in Manchester has postponed its opening shows featuring comedian Peter Kay because it is not ready.

The venue, which will be the largest in the UK, held its first test event on Saturday but was forced to cancel some tickets just hours beforehand.

Kay was due to perform the first official events there this Tuesday and Wednesday.

But the venue said work on its power supply is "a few days behind" schedule.

"It is critical to ensure we have a consistent total power supply to our fully electric sustainable venue, the completion of which is a few days behind," a statement said.

"Rescheduling gives us the extra time we need to continue testing thoroughly. This is vital to satisfy the rigorous set of guidelines and protocols that are necessary for a venue of this size."

The venue will hold up to 23,500 people when fully open.

Kay's performances have been rescheduled to 29 and 30 April.

"We are very sorry for the inconvenience that this change will undoubtedly cause for some," the venue added. "We are thrilled to welcome Peter Kay as our grand opening act just a few days later than planned."

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Kay said: "I'm truly gutted as I know how disappointing this will be for everyone with tickets, but obviously it's a brand-new venue and it's important that everything is finished and safe for full capacity audiences.

"Fortunately, we've been able to reschedule the shows to next week, (I'll have to miss my Bums & Tums class) but hopefully I'll see you then."

US rock band The Black Keys are still due to play there on 27 April, before Kay's rescheduled dates. The venue said that gig will have a 10,000 capacity, and managers will use it to "continue to test the resilience of the venue and its operations".

Stay up-to-date

Jason Manford will host the Olivier Awards 2019 with Mastercard (Photo from 2017 ceremony: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

10 things you didn’t know about Jason Manford

By Hira Desai First Published 17 January 2020, Last Updated 22 January 2020

Jason is an award-winning comedian, broadcaster and actor. You may recognise him from 8 Out of 10 Cats and Live At The Apollo as well as his numerous stage roles, including the multi-Olivier Award-winning production of Sweeney Todd, an acclaimed UK tour of The Producers, and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. We are super excited that he will be hosting the Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard  and to celebrate, have rounded up 10 things you probably didn’t know about him. 

1. His first school teacher predicted his future career

The Salford-born star loved cracking a joke or two at school. So much so, in his first school report his teacher wrote: “He’s always telling jokes. Perhaps he should become a comedian.”

2. He began his stand-up career as a teenager

Jason’s first comedy opportunity came at the very early age of 17. Working at the Southern Hotel in Manchester in 1999 as a glass-collector and pot-washer, he had no idea what his future would hold. When a performer didn’t arrive for an evening set at Buzz Comedy Club, located downstairs in the hotel, Manford filled in for the absent comic and never looked back!

Just 16 gigs later, Jason was crowned The City Life North West Comedian of the Year in 1999, an award previously won by Caroline Aherne, Johnny Vegas and Peter Kay.

3. Fellow comedian Peter Kay is one of his biggest supporters

Peter Kay offered plenty of advice and contacts to Jason in the early stage of his comedy career. He recommended the Higher National Diploma in media and performance at the University of Salford, and despite not having the required A Level grades, Jason was accepted.  He later upgraded to a full degree. More importantly, he went on to make his name as an entertainer, working in local radio, going on to stand-up and winning the Perrier Award at the Edinburgh Festival.

4.  He can sing opera

In 2011, Jason won ITV’s charity talent competition, Born To Shine after learning how to sing opera. The comic sang Maria and Brindisi alongside 14-year old chorister George Clarke, who had been his mentor for the show. The man of many talents then went on to  release an album of show tunes called A Different Stage. 

5. He was on the 2010 Channel 4 list of the Greatest Stand-Ups of all-time

Jason finished in an impressive 65th position. That was behind Billy Connolly, Ricky Gervais and Roy Chubby Brown, but ahead of Ronnie Corbett, Freddie Starr and Ken Dodd.

6. He is a huge musical theatre fan

In 2012, Jason showed off his  new-found singing talent on tour with Alfie Boe and alongside Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton in Sweeney Todd in the West End. Other musical credits include roles in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Producers and a concert production of Guys And Dolls.

More recently, he has just finished playing the West End role of detective Frank Cioffi in the hilarious whodunnit West End production of Curtains and will be reprising the role as the Tony-Award winning musical heads off on its UK Tour. 

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7. He is the voice-over on the Churchill insurance adverts

If you’ve ever seen the original Churchill insurance adverts… ohhh yes, (the one with the nodding dog!) you may or may not have noticed that Jason is the voice-over summing up the ad at the end! Who would have known?

8. He set up the ‘Charity Ninjas’

In 2014, Jason jumped on board to help cancer sufferer Stephen Sutton reach his £1 million target for Teenage Cancer Trust. Besides donating £10,000 to the cause and organising a last-minute charity gig which sold out within minutes, Jason also launched the Thumbs Up For Stephen campaign which went on to raise over £2.5 million for Teenage Cancer Trust! Since then, he has gone on to set up Charity Ninjas, a team of mystery do-gooders who anonymously come to the rescue of people around the UK, raising thousands of pounds and helping many many people.

He makes us laugh, acts, sings AND does a bucket load of charity work. What a hero!

9. He is the host of a brand new BBC gameshow

First & Last is a brand-new six-part series that puts eleven contestants through a chain of funny, play-along-at-home games, all of which have one golden rule – they must avoid coming first or last. If they do, they will be eliminated!

Catch Jason in this hilarious show on BBC 1 on Saturday night at 8.30pm.

10. He will be presenting the Olivier Awards with Mastercard for the third time this year

Having previously hosted in 2017 and 2019, the much-loved comedian, actor and singer will return to the Royal Albert Hall for the glittering Olivier Awards 2020 with Mastercard ceremony on Sunday 5 April. 

If you want to join this celebration of the very best in British theatre, tickets for the Olivier Awards with Mastercard ceremony will  be on public sale from Friday 24 January. In the meantime, you can check out the highlights from 2019 !

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Exclusive olivier awards 2024 with mastercard winners announced, get more from your ticket, stk steakhouse – free welcome drink, q-park – 50% off.

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Susan Boyle's surprise duet of I Know Him So Well with Peter Kay helps Comic Relief raise an astonishing £42m by 10pm

By Jody Thompson Updated: 04:49 EST, 21 March 2011

View comments

She's long held Elaine Paige as her musical hero - and now Susan Boyle has become something of a hero herself for helping raise a staggering amount of money for Comic Relief by covering one of her songs.

The former Britain's Got Talent star, 49, made a surprise appearance on tonight's Red Nose Day extravaganza on BBC1 singing I Know Him So Well with Peter Kay, 37, in his Geraldine McQueen incarnation from his spoof Britain's Got The Pop Factor...On Ice.

The duet was previously recorded by Elaine and Barbara Dickson from the musical Chess and was a Number One hit for four weeks in 1985.

Scroll down to see Elaine and Barbara's original performance...

Game for a laugh: Susan Boyle and Peter Kay covered Elaine Paige and Barbara Dickson's I Know Him So Well for Red Nose Day

On song: The pair's hilarious performance boosted the Comic Relief coffers to a massive £42m by 10pm

Funny for money: Some of the bits of the spoof were spot on when it came to the original 1985 video of the Number One hit

Susan and Peter hilariously spoofed the original video of the song, which was written by Tim Rice along with Abba's Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaes.

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Susan and Peter's version meanwhile goes on sale on Monday to raise even more money for Comic Relief.

In a nod to the original video in all its Eighties glory, Susan has an enormous perm which keeps getting bigger, and at one point, the pair cook toast over an open fire.

In harmony: The pair actually turned out a sterling cover of the song, originally from the Tim Rice and Abba Eighties musical Chess

Hair raising: Susan's normally modest curls kept increasing during the course of the spoof video 

Red hot performance: Viewers appeared to adore the pair's version of I Know Him So Well and donated in their droves

After the pair finished singing, they were seen emerging from the studio and walking down a corridor at BBC's Television Centre, where Susan was heard saying to Peter: 'Hurry up then, I want a cup of tea.'

Peter then replies: 'Alright, keep your hair on' - at which point they both take off wigs to reveal shiny bald heads underneath.

Wigging out: Susan and Peter were definitely being funny for money during their dazzling duet

Song take-off: Susan and Peter appeared to have a great laugh making the video for their version of I Know Him So Well

Moments later, presenters Fearne Cotton and Lenny Henry revealed that aftere just three hours on air, Susan and Peter's performance had boosted the sum total to a whopping £42m.

Share or comment on this article: Comic Relief 2011: Susan Boyle surprise duet of I Know Him So Well with Peter Kay helps raise £42m by 10pm

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Perm: Lord of the Northern Urals

Perm. Sergei Gribushin House. Built at turn of 20th century by Alexander Turchasov. Referred to in Boris Pasternak's Doctor Zhivago as the "house with statues". August 23, 1999

Located just on the European side of the Ural Mountains, the metropolis of Perm is both an industrial powerhouse and one of Russia’s cultural centers. The main part of the city extends for miles along the high east bank of the Kama River.

In summer 1909, the Russian photographer and chemist Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky made his first trip to Perm as part of his project to document the diversity of the Russian Empire in the early 20th century. Prokudin-Gorsky’s panoramas of Perm included detailed vistas of the riverfront. My first visit to the Perm region occurred nine decades late, in the summer of 1999. Return trips ln 2014 and 2017 revealed a city in the midst of a building boom.

View up left bank of Kama River (taken from railroad bridge). Beneath the smoke plume: bell tower & Cathedral of the Transfiguration. Smoke is multicolored because of motion during the three sequential exposures of the negative. Summer 1909

A history entertwined with industry

The name “Perm” (apparently derived from Finno-Ugric words pera ma, meaning "distant land") is documented as early as the 12th-century chronicle “Tale of Bygone Years”. At that time "Perm" was variously used to include territory in the northern Urals that was nominally controlled by the economic power of Novgorod, whose hunters and traders reaped the bounty of its valuable furs.    

Bell tower of the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior. June 15, 2014

The settlement of Perm, however, originated in the early 18th century as part of the quest by Peter the Great to exploit the vast ore deposits of the Ural Mountains. These raw materials provided secure sources of essential industrial-grade metals needed above all for the army.

As with other Urals towns such as Yekaterinburg , the guiding force in developing this area was Vasily Tatishchev (1686-1750), one of Russia's early professional historians. A scholar with a gift for practical activity, Tatishchev had boundless admiration for Peter the Great and was an influential proponent of the central role of autocrat and state in Russian history, of the view that Russians are a "state people."

Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior, northwest view. August 23, 1999

During the 1720s, Tatishchev established settlements at mines, smelters, and metal-working plants throughout the Ural Mountains. In 1720, he chose the 17th-century village of Egoshikha, located near the small Egoshikha River, a tributary of the Kama. With nearby sources of copper ore, dense forests and ample water supplies, the site was considered ideal for a large smelter. The project was entrusted to Georg Wilhelm Henning (de Gennin; 1676-1750), a military engineer of German origins who worked closely with Tatishchev. 

Construction began on the main Egoshikha factory on May 4, 1723, which is considered the city’s founding date. The name “Perm” was officially adopted only in 1781 after a command by Catherine the Great that transformed the large factory settlement into an administrative center for the Urals.          

Meshkov House, main facade. August 23, 1999

Since its origins, Perm has been associated with heavy industry, and by the 1860s it became one of the most important arms producing areas in Russia. The cannon works at Motovilikha — a factory town founded in the 18th century near the copper​ plant at Egoshikha — became a key component in the Russian military-industrial complex. 

A transport hub

View of central Perm from City Hills. In distant background from left: minaret of Main Mosque, bell tower of Trinity Cathedral. Center: Transfiguration Cathedral. Center far right: side & back of Meshkov House. All buildings linked by Monastery Street. Summer 1909.

Because of its favorable location within the Volga River basin, Perm during the 19th century developed into a transportation center for salt and other minerals, ​as well as ​metal ore​ and the products of metal factories throughout the western Ural Mountains. In 1846, regular steamboat service appeared on the Kama.

In 1863, Perm was included in the main Siberian highway, and in 1878, construction was completed on the first phase of the Urals Railroad from Perm to Ekaterinburg, part of a railroad construction boom that culminated in the early 20th century with the completion of the TransSiberian Railway. Perm’s growth in the 19th century was reflected in Prokudin-Gorsky’s overviews of the central city, with its belching smokestacks.

Meshkov House, view from Monastery (formerly Ordzhonikidze) Street. June 15, 2014

Distinctive landmarks

Among the landmarks in his photographs is the Cathedral of the Transfiguration of the Savior, overlooking the Kama. The shrine was originally part of the Transfiguration Monastery, founded in 1560 by the Stroganovs for their settlement up the Kama River at Pyskor. In 1781, the monastery moved to Perm, recently elevated to the status of town and the seat of a diocese. Begun at the end of the 18th century, construction of the Perm cathedral lasted until 1819. Thereafter, work began on ​its majestic neoclassical bell tower, designed by Ivan Sviyazev and finished in 1832.        

Bell tower of Trinity Cathedral on Sludka Hill. June 15, 2014

Much of Perm burned during a fire in 1842, but the town quickly recovered. During the half century before the First World War, rapid growth led to the construction of brick buildings in eclectic ornamental styles.

Trinity Cathedral, southeast view. June 15, 2014

Despite sweeping changes in the century following Prokudin-Gorsky’s visit, many of the buildings captured in his photographs remain, Prominent among them are the Ascension-St. Feodosy Church (1903-10) and the Trinity Cathedral (1846-49).

Main mosque & minaret. August 22, 1999 11.

One of the most distinctive landmarks in his panoramas is the towering minaret of Perm’s main mosque, endowed by local merchants and designed in a Moorish style by Aleksandr Ozhegov. Completed in 1903, its tall minaret soars above wooden houses and century-old brick buildings in what was once a Tatar district. The area is now overshadowed by a skyscraper apartment complex and by the nearby office tower of energy giant Lukoil.

Main moscue & minaret in evening light. August 23, 1999.

Civil war prize

Like other industrial and railroad towns in the Urals, Perm was hotly contested during the Russian Civil War. For a few months, it appeared that Admiral Alexander Kolchak's White forces, which captured Perm on Christmas Eve in 1918, would prevail in their drive westward. Yet the energetic strategy of the Red commanders such as Mikhail Frunze and Vasily Bliukher drove Kolchak back from Perm and the Urals in what proved to be a disastrous retreat for White forces. In a further twist of fate, the victorious Red commander Bliukher fell victim to Stalin's purges in 1938. Perm during the Civil War is generally considered to be portrayed under the name “Yuriatin” in Boris Pasternak’s novel Doctor Zhivago .

Perm old & new. Late 19th-century house, Monastery Street 83. Right: Lukoil Building. June 15, 2014

 Despite extensive damage in the wake of the Civil War, Perm regained its industrial power in the 1930s. In March 1940 the city was renamed Molotov in honor of Vyacheslav Molotov (1890-1986), a member of Stalin’s inner circle. The name “Perm” was restored in October 1957 in the wake of Nikita Khrushchev’s campaign of de-Stalinization.          

With slightly over a million inhabitants, Perm belongs to a cluster of cities (Krasnoyarsk, Voronezh, Ufa) that falls just under Russia’s top 10. The city's economy rests on the viability of local industry, which includes not only metal working and engine production but also major oil refineries and chemical plants.

Prokudin-Gorsky’s photographs of Perm superbly convey the sense of this bustling industrial and transportation nexus.

View of Kama River northwest from Transfiguration Cathedral. August 21, 1999

In the early 20th century the Russian photographer Sergei Prokudin-Gorsky devised a complex process for color photography. Between 1903 and 1916 he traveled through the Russian Empire and took over 2,000 photographs with the process, which involved three exposures on a glass plate. In August 1918, he left Russia and ultimately resettled in France with a large part of his collection of glass negatives. After his death in Paris in 1944, his heirs sold the collection to the Library of Congress. In the early 21st century the Library digitized the Prokudin-Gorsky Collection and made it freely available to the global public. A number of Russian websites now have versions of the collection. In 1986 the architectural historian and photographer William Brumfield organized the first exhibit of Prokudin-Gorsky photographs at the Library of Congress. Over a period of work in Russia beginning in 1970, Brumfield has photographed most of the sites visited by Prokudin-Gorsky. This series of articles will juxtapose Prokudin-Gorsky’s views of architectural monuments with photographs taken by Brumfield decades later.

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