Peter Kay is facing criticism from fans after TikTok videos of his live shows were pulled down for copyright reasons – with some audience members also accusing the comic of recycling old material during his long-running tour.
The 52-year-old comedian is still performing his Better Late Than Never tour, which began in December 2022 and marked his return to live comedy after more than a decade away. While the shows have sold out arenas and grossed millions, not everyone has left impressed.
One fan who attended Kay’s Newcastle gig this week posted a video saying he “didn’t laugh” and suggested comedy “isn’t for you anymore Peter”. He added: “£150 for two tickets wasn’t worth it. Tonight I laughed about twice in the second half. Sorry Peter, it’s not for you no more.”
That post was later removed for “copyright reasons”, sparking anger among other attendees who said their own clips and photos had also been taken down.
“My video slating Peter Kay in Newcastle has been removed for copyright reasons – absolute waste of £150,” the fan wrote in a follow-up.
Another said a picture they had uploaded from his Manchester date last year was also deleted months later: “Massive PK fan but this tour just did not land at all. Very disappointed.”
Social media has since filled with similar gripes. Some branded the tickets “too expensive”, while others criticised sections of the show devoted to singalongs of retro advert jingles such as A Mars a day helps you work, rest and play. “We expected a comedian – not a musical with random singalongs,” one disappointed fan posted.
Others claimed Kay was leaning heavily on familiar routines: “Been doing the same material for 25 years,” one said, while another compared the show to “Pontins-style nostalgia”.
Not all reaction has been negative. Many who have attended say Kay remains “hilarious” and insist the backlash is exaggerated online. “It’s a TikTok thing – seems the in thing to say Peter Kay is rubbish,” one defender argued.
The Bolton-born comic has also faced headlines away from his routines. Earlier this year, he came under fire after comparing an audience member to Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley during one of his shows.
The fan later accused him of “bullying” and said she felt humiliated by the remark, though Riley herself later posed for photos with Kay at another gig.
Kay’s Better Late Than Never tour, which has grossed more than £27 million, is scheduled to continue into 2025. He has not yet commented on the social media removals or criticism.
