‘Bored’ Peter Kay fans liken his gig to Pontins and claim hundreds left during the interval – as they fail to see the funny side of comedian ‘singing 80s TV ads’

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Some admirers of Peter Kay assert that they noticed numerous attendees exiting his concerts, while other spectators expressed feelings of boredom after listening to him perform 1980s tunes as jingles.

As a devoted fan and spectator, I must admit that I’ve been following the hilarious journey of the 52-year-old comedian during his ongoing Better Late Than Never tour, which kicked off in December 2022. However, it’s unfortunate to say that certain aspects of his performance have drawn criticism from some quarters.

Fans, who had been eagerly anticipating attending one of his concerts for years, seemed to feel somewhat let down when he performed familiar songs from the past. They expressed their dissatisfaction by criticizing his setlist for being repetitive.

The show was likened to Pontins, known for its vintage entertainment style, implying that it carries a nostalgic humor reminiscent of a working-class atmosphere typical of holiday parks.

After the performance, attendees posted videos on TikTok, and one individual posed the question: “Did I alone feel that Peter Kay’s return wasn’t as anticipated after a two-year delay?” or “Was it just me, or did Peter Kay’s comeback not live up to the hype following the two-year wait?

The description for the video states that they had purchased the tickets two years prior and made a journey by car from Plymouth to Manchester.

Initially, we felt energetic and lively, yet there was a sense of disappointment. To be truthful, we anticipated a comedian’s performance-not a theatrical production filled with spontaneous singing sessions.

They mentioned the part of Peter’s act where he harmonizes with catchy tunes from commercials promoting chocolate bars, like “A Mars a day helps you work, rest, and play” and “A finger of Fudge is all you need.

Several individuals in the video’s comment section expressed similar opinions, such as: ‘I departed at half-time in Belfast a few weeks ago, failing to appreciate the humor of singing 80s TV commercials for two hours, haha’ and ‘Did he even mention Spangles and Texas chocolate bars? That encompasses his entire performance’ and ‘It seems like a show aimed at senior citizens to reminisce about old commercial jingles one last time before they pass away’.

Instead of praising him, others criticized him, saying: ‘When I met him, he kept talking about his late grandmother’; ‘I’ve been a fan of Peter Kay since his debut, but this last show we attended in Glasgow a couple of years ago was terrible. In contrast, we saw Micky Flanagan a few months later in the same arena, who simply appeared on stage wearing an M&S Autograph shirt and delivered an exceptional performance.’

Others expressed their opinion: “Peter Kay has never been amusing”; “Comedians eventually reach their expiration date, Lee Evans realized this and left at the peak of his career”; “I fully concur”; “Unfortunately, he’s no longer humorous. It’s 2025 and some still haven’t figured out that Peter Kay isn’t funny.

“What we were really after was more of ‘Phoenix Nights’. Can anyone tell me why he uses a shovel in his act? I’m curious if that’s meant to be humorous too?”

Both the original and paraphrased sentences convey the same meaning, but the paraphrased version might sound more conversational and easier to understand for some readers.

Some people argue that the comedian seems to be reusing old jokes, giving the performance a familiar and uninspired feel. This can be rephrased as: “They claim he’s been using his old comedy routines over and over again, which makes the show feel outdated”; “It’s surprising to hear that after 25 years he’s still performing the same material”; “Many believe that his first blunder was assuming Peter Kay would still be funny”.

1. ‘My experience at the concert in Manchester was extremely underwhelming. Many people even left during the first half.’ (More formal)

2. ‘The gig in Sheffield last May didn’t meet my expectations, if I’m honest.’ (Informal)

3. ‘I attended his concert in Manchester last year and I must admit that I was already bored before the interval.’ (Formal)

4. ‘His show in Manchester left me quite dissatisfied; I found myself counting down the minutes until half time, as it seemed like most of the performance involved singing about old-fashioned candy bars. It felt like an unnecessary extension to keep the event going.’ (Descriptive)

Is he still focusing on reminiscing about events from the 1980s?”

“I had a similar experience where I spent £200 on each ticket and couldn’t manage to find anything humorous.

Nevertheless, there remains a devoted fanbase that continues to staunchly support Peter’s shows, asserting him as ‘hilarious’. They attest to laughter erupting from the beginning to end.

One individual asserted that the negative comments about the shows are primarily found online, suggesting it’s a trend among TikTok users to criticize Peter Kay as mediocre.

Others contended: ‘Comedians find it challenging… they risk being perceived as offensive. The overly sensitive “woke” individuals, not Peter Kay, should be blamed instead.’

‘It’s tough for comedians… they face the possibility of being labeled offensive. Instead of blaming Peter Kay, it’s the overly sensitive and politically correct crowd that deserves criticism.’

1) I caught his act in Manchester a few months back. He was side-splittingly funny, laughing my head off from beginning to end. Didn’t notice many people leaving – it must have been a timeless Peter Kay performance.

Daily Mail has contacted Peter’s representatives for comment. 

Peter’s Better Late Than Never tour, which has grossed approximately £27 million, marks his return to live performances after over a decade. This lengthy tour has been ongoing for nearly three years.

Previously this year, Myar Curran, aged 25, found himself removed from a performance, and his likening of himself to the well-known actress Lisa Riley, age 48, made tabloid news.

The actress later attended a gig of his in Leeds and posed for pictures with him afterwards.

Next to the pictures, she expressed her gratitude saying: “Many thanks, Peter, for such an amazing night! Our sides ached from laughing so hard – the performance was riotously funny! We found ourselves still quoting the jokes past midnight – true northern charm at its finest.

‘You are the best of the best. Love ya.’

During a conversation on Good Morning Britain, Myar expressed that she wouldn’t be watching him anymore due to him causing her to feel deeply embarrassed.

She branded Peter a ‘bully’ and accused him of singling her out because of her weight.

A few weeks on, during a packed performance, Peter momentarily paused his sold-out gig to address some troublemakers in the audience and ask for their removal.

In a matter of mere weeks, he found himself compelled to intervene, following a dispute regarding a woman resembling Lisa and a boisterous crowd. This troublesome group was subsequently asked to leave by him, whom he derisively referred to as “hooligans” and “mischievous apes.

The exclusive clip from TopMob shows him engaged in conversation with a group sitting atop a box situated on the side of the O2 Arena in London.

A person wearing a white t-shirt appears to shrug his shoulders at someone else in the crowd, who seems to be urging him to keep silent.

Peter, with a playful nod to the Lisa Riley event, quips to the crowd: “Does anyone here resemble Lisa Riley in this part? No, never mind, let’s move past that, gesturing towards the indicated area.

He remarks, ‘You remind me of Right Said Fred in that outfit. It seems everyone here has overindulged. So, what shall we do about you now?'” This version aims to preserve the original meaning while using more formal and polite language, as well as clarifying a few details for easier understanding.

Then as the man carries on heckling Peter can be heard saying: ‘Go on, jump!’

The camera pulls back to show the fellow standing near the stage, gesturing towards it while grinning widely. He then places his hands on his hips as Peter humorously instructs: ‘Leap now, and let’s see if you’ll spring up!’ Amid chuckles from spectators.

Responding, the man shakes his finger at the comedy legend from Bolton, preceding Peter’s remark: “Well then, what’s our plan here? I’m opting out this round.

Afterward, Peter requests the crowd to “put up your hands if the men in the two booths above are annoying you.

20,000 people raised their hands with enthusiastic shouts when Peter said, “It seems we require a security team to handle this situation up there.

A different gentleman, clad in black, can be spotted grinning while filming Peter, who seems to be conversing with a heckler seated nearby.

Peter remarked, “Alright, let’s continue, but if you misbehave excessively, you’ll be leaving earlier – you mischievous lot!” The crowd burst into cheers and applause.

An attendee seated beside the hecklers, accompanied by his clients and preferring anonymity, shared with TopMob that ‘Peter managed the situation admirably, truly demonstrating professionalism.’

It was clear that this group had been consuming alcohol, and instead of attending the performance for entertainment, they seemed intent on causing a disturbance and seeking attention for themselves.

‘We had paid £250 a person for the seats, and it spoilt what should have been a great night.

Initially, there were just two boxes, but approximately thirty individuals, mostly men, managed to spoil the entire event for everyone else.

The sound originating from that area was highly disturbing, showing a lack of consideration towards Peter and the entire audience present.

The event started approximately midway through the performance and continued for quite some time, ending only moments before its conclusion, with the final items discarded near the finish.

‘I think it must have stopped and started four times to deal with them.

I previously mentioned my admiration for how Peter managed the situation, and I couldn’t help but feel a tinge of empathy for him having to interact with those individuals. To be honest, in my case, I might have reacted more assertively.

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2025-08-25 14:19