Peter Kay

Peter John Kay, born on 2 July 1973, is an English comedian, actor, writer, and producer. He is regarded as one of the UK’s most successful stand-up comedians. Peter has won many awards, including a National Television Award, two British Academy Television Awards, and three British Comedy Awards. He is known for his funny observations about British culture and everyday life.

Peter grew up in Farnworth and studied at the University of Salford. He started his comedy career by performing part-time as a stand-up comedian. In 1997, he won Channel 4’s So You Think You're Funny contest, and later performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. This led to many TV shows, including That Peter Kay Thing and Peter Kay's Phoenix Nights.

Peter also created funny TV shows like Britain's Got the Pop Factor... and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice, where he played a funny character named Geraldine McQueen. He has starred in sitcoms like Peter Kay's Car Share and Cradle to Grave. Peter also provided the voice for a character in the Wallace & Gromit movies The Curse of the Were-Rabbit and Vengeance Most Fowl.

One of Peter’s biggest successes was his 2010–2011 tour, which became the most successful stand-up comedy tour ever, seen by 1.2 million people. In 2016, he received an honorary doctorate from the University of Salford.

Early life

Peter John Kay was born on 2 July 1973 in Farnworth, Lancashire. He went to Mount Saint Joseph School and got a GCSE in art.

Before becoming famous, Peter had many different jobs. He worked at places like a toilet roll factory, a Netto supermarket, a video shop, Manchester Arena, and a cinema. He was let go from each job after a few months because he didn’t take things very seriously.

Peter started studying at the University of Liverpool, but later switched to a course in media performance at the University of Salford. In 2016, the university gave him an honorary degree for his work in entertainment. He began performing comedy at the Frog & Bucket Comedy Club in Manchester in July 1996, while his girlfriend worked at Boots.

Career

Peter Kay started his career in television in 1997 with a comedy show called New Voices. He played different roles in many TV shows, including Coronation Street and Phoenix Nights, which became very popular. In 2004, he created a spin-off called Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere.

In movies, Kay acted in Blow Dry in 2001. He also made music videos for charity, like one for Comic Relief in 2007.

Kay performed in theater, such as in The Producers musical in 2007. He took a break from comedy from 2017 to 2022 but returned in 2022 with a big stand-up tour. He is known for his funny characters and popular shows.

Kay’s first big stand-up win was in a competition called North West Comedian of the Year. He later won a contest on Channel 4 called So You Think You're Funny? and performed at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His live special Live at the Top of the Tower in 2000 made him widely recognized. He appeared on popular chat shows like Friday Night with Jonathan Ross and Parkinson.

In 2009, after a seven-year break, Kay returned to stand-up with a show at Manchester Arena, which became the most successful comedy tour ever, seen by over 1.2 million people. He planned more tours but stopped in 2017 for family reasons. He returned to stand-up in 2022 with a tour from December 2022 to August 2023, and added more dates for 2024, 2025, and 2026. In November 2025, he announced extra shows in 2026 for his “Better Late Than Never” Tour, with profits going to cancer charities.

Personal life

Peter Kay met his wife, Susan Gargan, in 1997 when he was working at a local cinema. They got married in 2001 after dating for three years. The family lives in Bolton and also has a home in Lough Derg, County Tipperary in Ireland.

Peter Kay chooses not to drink alcohol.

Stand-up tours

Filmography

Television

Film

DVD releases

In December 2011, it was reported that Kay had sold over 10 million DVDs. This was a UK record for a comedian and more than the combined sales of best selling films Avatar and Mamma Mia!.

Discography

Peter Kay released an album in 2005 called The Best of Peter Kay – So Far. He also released songs, including one where he performed as Geraldine McQueen.

Awards and nominations

Peter Kay has won several awards for his work. He received a National Television Award, two British Academy Television Awards, and three British Comedy Awards. These prizes show how much people enjoy his comedy and performances.