Peter Kay has been named the wealthiest comedian in the UK, with a fortune of £34.6 million, according to a new rich list compiled by The Sun. The 51-year-old star, known for his role in Phoenix Nights, returned to stand-up comedy in 2022 after a four-year hiatus caused by “unforeseen family circumstances”. His current tour, Better Late Than Never, runs until December next year and includes an unprecedented month-long residency at London’s O2 Arena.
Despite a £1.2 million drop in his fortune compared to the previous year, Kay's earnings are expected to be boosted by his mammoth tour. In second place is Stephen Merchant, co-creator of The Office, with £26.2 million, fuelled by roles in films like Jojo Rabbit and the BBC series The Outlaws. Ricky Gervais, Merchant's comedy writing partner, is third with £25.8 million.
Russell Howard ranks fourth with £10.1 million, followed by Jack Whitehall in fifth with £9.9 million. Rob Beckett, who has enjoyed success alongside Romesh Ranganathan, has a fortune of £6 million, placing him ahead of Michael McIntyre and John Bishop. The only woman in the top ten is Sarah Millican, who is ninth with £3.2 million.
Kay's tour faced recent setbacks when two sell-out gigs at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena were postponed due to safety concerns. The venue's general manager, Gary Roden, resigned amid the controversy. Kay expressed frustration on Twitter, apologising to ticket holders and noting the venue was “still not ready”. The shows eventually took place at the end of May.
