Peter Kay returns to old workplace for gigs 30 years after being sacked

11 December 2023 , 11:53

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Peter Kay returns to old workplace for three secret gigs after being 'let go'

Peter Kay has returned to the stage in Bolton for three secret fundraising gigs, marking his first time performing live in his hometown in 20 years.

The comedian, 50, kicked off an intense arena tour of 121 dates across the UK and Ireland in 2022, after a 12-year-long hiatus from showbiz. Simply called The Peter Kay tour, the long-awaited comeback has seen one of Britain's most famous entertainer's deliver brand new material for his adoring fanbase. Ticket prices started at £35, which is the same as they were in 2010, in recognition of the cost of living crisis.

Peter, 50, took a break from the tour on Sunday to return to his hometown of Bolton play the Octagon Theatre, a 390-capacity theatre in the heart of the town. The gigs raised £80,000 for the Bolton Octagon, which is a registered charity and relies on public donations to exist. Tickets for the intimate shows were extremely limited and reserved for Octagon donors and returning customers.

Peter Kay's homecoming shows in Bolton at the weekend raise over £80k for the Octagon theatre

Peter received a rapturous applause when he took the stage at the theatre, before launching into a monologue about his own history with the venue. The Lancashire native worked at the Octagon in the 1990s, holding down a job at its ticket office and performing his first material there.

He started his bit by admitting that he was "let go" of his post at the theatre, which today runs workshops for aspiring comedians. Peter recalled that he'd been fired for a number of offences, including forbidding a Coronation Street star from wearing white jeans inside the building.

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He also revealed he'd once impersonated a council employee to inform a customer their water would be cut off, after they'd been rude to one of his colleagues. Kay also confessed to falling asleep during a play while in his uniform.

"I used to work here in 1994 and I got let go," the comedian told the audience, according to the BBC. He later added: "So that wasn't a good advert, for a member of staff to be spark out during a show." Peter's return to the venue after 30 years has given Octagon "a big boost", according to its chief director.

Peter Kay revealed that he'd been sacked from the Octagon for impersonating a council employee (Getty Images)

Fans of the comic took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their rave reviews about his set on Sunday. "This was the most magical afternoon. I felt like I was sat in Peter Kay’s living toom having a good old chin wag – a memory forever!" one person wrote, while another said: "I thought it was brilliant and wonderful to see him this intimate setting – it was hilarious and I couldn't stop laughing."

Meanwhile, a third wrote: "Sat on the front row watching @peterkay_co_uk at the @octagontheatre is something I’ll never forget." A fourth person admitted they "ached with laughter" from Peter's gig, while another said it was a "delight" to see the renowned comic in the flesh.

Emma Dooney