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Dianne Bourne & Kirstie McCrum & Max Channon

Peter Kay brought to tears by crowds at first tour in 12 years

Peter Kay has been brought to tears tonight (Friday) by appreciative crowds on the opening night of his first tour in 12 years. The 49-year-old comic was greeted by applause and cheers at Manchester’s AO Arena and was seen wiping away tears.

The stage was set for the opening night of his first solo tour in 12 years, with 110 dates kicking off with a sell-out crowd on home turf for the Bolton funnyman. Peter will be taking his show around the UK this year and in 2023, 2024 and 2025 - with dates in London, Cardiff, Belfast, Liverpool, Birmingam, Leeds, Glasgow, Sheffield, Nottingham and Newcastle.

A ful list of tour dates can be found at the bottom of this article. On his long-awaited return in Manchester, Peter arrived in a spotlight silhouette akin to James Bond, before the curtain fell to huge cheers from the crowd.

Chants of “Peter” rang out amid thunderous applause from the thousands packing into the arena - where, pre-fame, the comic once worked in the 1990s as a steward. He looked quite overwhelmed and appeared to wipe away tears as the crowd continued to cheer, reports the Manchester Evening News.

“Aw you’ll have me in bits,” he said.

“Lovely Manchester you made me cry,” he added.

“I can’t believe I cried, where did it come from all that emotion?”

Peter looked in fine form in a smart black suit with a blue shirt. He had the crowd in stitches with the new comedy show which started at 8pm.

Earlier this year fans got a surprise in between the adverts of I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here, on ITV, when Peter was filmed carrying a rolled-up carpet into his mum’s house. He joked with the cameraman before confirming his tour and announcing when tickets were due to go on sale.

The announcement sparked a huge demand for tickets when the initial 22 tour dates first went on sale. Now Peter will play 110 live shows in total across 2022, 2023, 2024 and right into 2025.

After announcing the tour, 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 after seeing the demand for the shows, he admitted he was "blown away" by the reaction.

The two opening nights in Manchester sold out within minutes of going on sale - as did many, many others of the eventual 110 dates added over the next three years.

Peter Kay tour dates 2022 - 2025

Friday, December 2 - Manchester AO Arena - 2022

Saturday, December 3 - Manchester AO Arena - 2022

Friday, December 16 - The O2 Arena, London - 2022

Saturday, December 17 - Birmingham Utilita Arena - 2022

Friday, January 6 - Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

Saturday, January 7 - Liverpool M&S Bank Arena

Friday, January 20 - Leeds First Direct Arena

Saturday, January 21 - The O2 Arena, London

Friday, February 17 - Sheffield Utilita Arena

Saturday, February 18 - The O2 Arena, London

Thursday, February 23 - Belfast SSE Arena

Friday, February 24 - Belfast SSE Arena

Saturday, February 25 - Belfast SSE Arena

Thursday, March 9 - Newcastle Utilita Arena

Friday, March 10 - Newcastle Utilita Arena

Wednesday, March 22 - The O2 Arena, London

Thursday, March 23 - Birmingham Resorts World Arena

Thursday, April 6 - Dublin 3Arena

Friday, April 7 - Dublin 3Arena

Friday, April 21 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham

Saturday, April 22 - The O2 Arena, London

Friday, May 5 - Glasgow OVO Hydro

Saturday, May 6 - Glasgow OVO Hydro

Friday, May 19 - Leeds First Direct Arena

Saturday, May 20 - The O2 Arena, London

Friday, June 2 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham

Saturday, June 3 - The O2 Arena, London

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, July 28 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham

Saturday, July 29 - The O2 Arena, London

Friday, August 11 - Sheffield Utilita Arena

Saturday, August 12 - Sheffield Utilita Arena

Tuesday, August 29 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham

Wednesday, August 30 - The O2 Arena, London

Friday, September 8 - Leeds First Direct Arena

Saturday, September 9 - The O2 Arena, London

Friday, September 22 - Manchester AO Arena

Saturday, September 23 - Manchester AO Arena

Saturday, October 7 - The O2 Arena, London

Thursday, October 19 - Manchester AO Arena

Friday, October 20 - Manchester AO Arena

Sunday, November 5 - Manchester AO Arena

Monday, November 6 - Manchester AO Arena

Saturday, November 18 - The O2 Arena, London

Friday, December 1 - Manchester AO Arena 2023

Saturday, December 16 - London, The O2 2023

January 5 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024

January 6 - The O2, London 2024

January 26 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

January 27 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

February 9 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

February 10 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

February 23 - Sheffield, Utilita Arena 2024

February 24 -The O2, London 2024

March 8 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

March 9 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

March 22 - First Direct Arena, Leeds 2024

March 23 -The O2, London 2024

April 5 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

April 6 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

April 19 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024

April 20 -The O2, London 2024

May 3 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024

May 4 -The O2, London 2024

May 17 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

May 18 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

June 1 - First Direct Arena, Leeds 2024

June 2 - The O2, London 2024

July 12 -Sheffield, Utilita Arena 2024

July 13 - The O2 Arena, London 2024

June 14 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

June 15 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

July 26 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

July 27 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

August 9 -Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024

August 10 - The O2 Arena, London 2024

August 23 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

August 24 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

September 6 -Sheffield, Utilita Arena 2024

September 7 - The O2 Arena, London 2024

September 20 - Manchester AO Arena 2024

September 21 - Manchester AO Arena 2024

October 7 -Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024

October 8 - The O2 Arena, London 2024

October 18 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

October 19 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

November 1 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

November 2 -Manchester AO Arena 2024

November 15 -Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024

November 16 - The O2 Arena, London 2024

November 29 - Manchester AO Arena 2024

November 30 - Manchester AO Arena 2024

December 5 - The O2 Arena, London 2024

December 6 -Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2024

December 20 - Manchester AO Arena 2024

December 21 - Manchester AO Arena 2024

January 10 - Manchester AO Arena 2025

January 11 - Manchester AO Arena 2025

January 24 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2025

January 25 - The O2 Arena, London 2025

February 8 - Manchester AO Arena 2025

February 21 - Birmingham Resorts World Arena 2025

February 22 - The O2 Arena, London 2025

April 5 - Manchester AO Arena 2025

May 17 - Manchester AO Arena 2025

June 7 - Utilita Arena, Birmingham 2025

June 21 - Manchester AO Arena 2025

July 25 - Manchester AO Arena 2025

All tour tickets are available on Ticketmaster , See Tickets and the Ticket Factory (Ticket factory is for Birmingham dates only). Speaking of the 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."

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