in Bolton with his wife Susan and has no desire to up sticks. He would sooner give it all up than leave home. In one interview. a journalist asked him why he never came to London much. His response was simple: ‘You don't come to Bolton much either.’
His home town has been the focus of much of his comic creations. Drawing from personal experience. people he’s met and from the wealth of jobs he did before becoming a comic. Kay has amassed a huge repertoire of hilarious and credible
material. The characters seen in Phoenix Nights and That Peter
Kay Thing have developed from his jobs as a cinema usher. a steward at the Manchester Arena. a bingo caller. a mobile 1)] ( his last song was ‘So Long. Farewell’ from The Sound ofMusie) and
working in a factory packing toilet rolls. Like most comedians though. Kay occasionally bends the truth. but when you‘re performing in front of a home crowd. this can be problematic.
'l've only ever performed in Bolton the once and it were awful.’ he says. ‘They kept shouting out the truth! I‘m telling stories about what happened when I was in such and such a place and they're shouting out: “That never happened. you weren’t even there that day!‘"
But they‘ve also been supportive by treating him as they have always treated him. ‘When you‘re away a lot you can get surrounded by people who laugh at everything you say. My friendsjust say: “Shut up. you're not funny." or: “That‘s crapl‘"
In the new series of Phoenix Nights. the club they filmed in was the one Kay used to go to as a child for (‘hristmas parties. ‘I love those clubs. the kind of club where the cabaret act is a bricklayer by day. Neil Diamond by night. I was fascinated by
that and the fact that all these clubs are shutting down but they are so desperate to hold onto the clientele.‘
This sense of pathos comes through but without weighing it down. It still sparkles with wit. familiarity and authenticity. Kay stars as Max the bouncer and wheelchair-bound Brian Potter. and for the first time. he had a go a directing. Like Victoria Wood (whom he cites as his greatest inspiration) did before him in As Seen ()n 71’. Kay likes to use the same cast of actors. fellow comedians and friends which include Dave Spikey. Daniel Kitson and Toby Foster. ‘I don‘t want to sound self-righteous. but I thought if I get a chance to do another series. I want these guys to come with me.~ says Kay. ‘They are
multi-talented. they’re not just stand-ups. they‘re good actors.’
As well as doing right by his own. Kay likes to bring in celebrities from the not too distant past. There's been Roy Walker and in the new series. Bul/seve’s Jim Bowen makes an appearance. So how did Jim Bowen measure up'.’ ‘01] God aye. Jim Bowen. he was a bloody nightmare! Ten years of bloody BI!”.\'(’_\'(’. he kept talking into the camera.‘
Things are going great for Kay. but always down to earth. he still wonders when it's going to end. So far. he’s made the right choices. even turning down lucrative TV offers if it didn’t feel right. His priority is to have a laugh and be with people he loves.
As I leave. I ask if he would mind signing a photo for my mum. Of course. he‘s more than happy to oblige.
Assembly Rooms, 226 2428, 21-26 Aug, 10.30pm, £11421 2 (MO-£11).