Peter Kay has announced his return to Bolton, performing in his hometown for the first time in 23 years. The 52-year-old actor and comedian will deliver four exclusive shows from July 9 to July 11, with all proceeds going to Bolton Hospice.
Exclusive hometown shows
In an Instagram announcement, Kay revealed that tickets are restricted to people with a Bolton postcode. The comedian, famous for his dry northern wit, will perform two shows on Saturday, including a matinee, as part of his 2026 stand-up tour, Better Late Than Never. All tickets sold out within 30 minutes, with over 12,000 people rushing to secure a seat.
Kay last performed in Bolton in 2003, recording the iconic Peter Kay: Live at the Bolton Albert Halls, which remains the biggest-selling stand-up DVD of all time in the UK.
Charity donations
Earlier, Kay announced that all profits from his 2026 stand-up tour would be donated to 12 cancer charities. Speaking on BBC's The One Show, he said: "Unfortunately, everybody knows someone who's been affected on that list, and I just hope people support it. You don't even have to like me to come; it goes beyond that. This is about supporting these charities." He joked, "If it's not funny, you'll get your money back."
The Better Late Than Never Again tour has been extended into 2026, featuring arena shows across the UK, including Birmingham, Newcastle, Leeds, Liverpool, Sheffield, London, and Manchester. Like his Bolton show, Kay will not take any profit, donating all proceeds to cancer charities. Shows have a strict 15+ age limit, with tickets priced from £35.
Weight loss journey
Kay has also opened up about his dramatic weight loss. Returning to the spotlight last year after a five-year absence, he sported a slimmer frame. In December, he discussed his lifelong battle with binge eating at an In Conversation With... event hosted by Sara Cox at The Lowry theatre in Salford, aired on BBC Radio 2.
He revealed he had tried everything, from slimming groups to gym sessions and his mother's Rosemary Conley keep-fit videos. "I tried everything. Good God in heaven. I mean, you go to flaming weight loss groups and stuff like that. I joined Slimming World and WeightWatchers. I did all of them," he said.
He recalled a key moment when he realized he had a binge eating problem: sneaking out of a cinema where he was watching a film with his wife Susan to eat a hotdog. He described lying about going to the toilet, then seeing his reflection in a poster for Babe. "I thought, look at you - what are you doing? You're doing really well on this diet, you should be ashamed of yourself." He threw the hotdog in the bin but grabbed it back before it hit the liner and ate it anyway.
Kay explained that his bad eating habits date back to childhood, when his mother would bring him pies to eat at primary school.
