Peter Kay fans have claimed they spotted hundreds of gig-goers leaving his shows with others saying the were ‘bored’ listening to him sing 1980s jingles.
The comedian, 52, who is still performing the Better Late Than Never tour which first began in December 2022, has been hit by criticism over parts of his show.
Disappointed fans were seemingly left underwhelmed after waiting years to attend one of his gigs, as they complained over him ‘recycling old material’.
One person compared the show to Pontins, which often takes a retro approach to entertainment and suggests the show’s nostalgic working-class humour, aligns with the vibe of the holiday parks.
Attendees shared videos on TikTok after the show, with one person asking: ‘Was it just me – or was Peter Kay not worth the two year wait?’
They wrote in the description of the clip: ‘Booked tickets 2 years ago. Drove all the way from Plymouth to Manchester.
Peter Kay fans have claimed they spotted hundreds of gig-goers leaving his shows with others saying the were ‘bored’ listening to him sing 1980s jingles
The comedian, 52, who is still performing the Better Late Than Never tour which first began in December 2022, has been hit by criticism over parts of his show
‘We were excited, buzzing… but honestly? Peter Kay just didn’t deliver. We expected a comedian – not a musical with random singalongs.’
They were referring to the segment of Peter’s performance where he sings along to advert jingles for chocolate bars such as ‘a Mars a day helps you work, rest and play’ and Cadbury’s ‘a finger of Fudge is just enough’.
Many others in the comments section on the video shared the same sentiment, saying: ‘Left at half time in Belfast a few weeks ago, couldn’t understand the funny side of singing 80s TV adverts for 2 hours lol’ and ‘Did he mention Spangles and Texan choc bars? That’s his entire act’ and ‘This is like show for pensioners to reminisce over old advert jingles one last time before they die’.
While others complained: ‘When I went to see him, he didn’t stop talking about his dead nana’; ‘Been a huge Peter Kay fan since he came on the scene, but I have to agree. We saw this show in Glasgow a couple of years back and it was awful. We saw Micky Flanagan a few months later in the same arena, no gimmicks just him in his M&S Autograph shirt and he was utter magic.’
Others moaned: ‘Peter Kay has always been awful’; ‘These comedians have only got a certain shelf life, Lee Evans understand and got out while he was ahead’; ‘I absolutely agree’; ‘He’s just not funny anymore. It’s 2025 and some people are only just learning that Peter Kay isn’t funny’
‘What we actually wanted was more Phoenix Nights’; ‘Can someone explain to me why he plays a shovel. Is this supposed to be funny as well?
Some claimed that the funnyman is using ‘old material’ making the show feel stale, saying: ‘It’s wild that he’s recycling his old material’; ‘Been doing the same material for 25 years’; ‘First mistake, thinking Peter Kay is still funny’;
One person’s TikTok branded Peter’s show ‘absolute s***e’ and a waste of £150
Attendees shared videos on TikTok after the show, with one person asking: ‘Was it just me – or was Peter Kay not worth the two year wait?’
‘This tour has just been very disappointing. I went to see him in Manchester, hundreds left at half time’; ‘Saw him in Sheffield in May. Wasn’t great tbf’; ‘Saw him in Manchester last year. Sad to say I was bored before half time. Most of it was singing about retro chocolate bars. It’s just a filler to drag it out’
‘Is his act still about remembering things from the 1980s?’; ‘It was absolutely the same for me, spent £200 per ticket and didn’t laugh once.
However Peter does still have some fiercely loyal fans who defended his shows and claimed he was ‘hilarious’, with people ‘belly laughing from start to finish.
One person claimed it was only online that people were negative about the shows, saying: ‘Think this is a TikTok thing, seems the in thing to say Peter Kay is c**p.’
Others argued: ‘Hard for comedians… not allowed to say anything for fear of being seen as offensive. Thank the mardy arse woke snowflakes not Peter Kay’; ‘It might not have been great but if you don’t think Peter Kay is an iconic comedian, then comedy is completely lost on you.
‘I saw im in London. He was hilarious. Not sure what you watched. £150? Wow’; ‘Saw him in Manchester a few months ago. [He] was absolutely brilliant, belly laughed from start to finish’; ‘I was there, didn’t see loads of people leaving! It was Peter Kay classic show’.
Daily Mail has contacted Peter’s representatives for comment.
Peter’s £27 million-grossing Better Late Than Never tour is his first live tour in more than a decade and has been running for almost three years.
Earlier this year Myar Curran, 25, was kicked out of his show and he compared her to soap star Lisa Riley, 48, with the exchange hitting the headlines.
One person compared the show to Pontins, which often takes a retro approach to entertainment and suggests the show’s nostalgic working-class humour, aligns with the vibe of the holiday parks
Another claimed that it was ‘the worst event’ I have ever seen in my life
Others said: ‘Is his act still about remembering things from the 1980s?’; ‘It was absolutely the same for me, spent £200 per ticket and didn’t laugh once’
The actress later attended a gig of his in Leeds and posed for pictures with him afterwards.
Alongside the images she wrote:’ Thank you so much Peter for the most fantastic night. We laughed until it hurt – the show is absolutely hilarious – we were up until way gone midnight reciting all the jokes – northern at its absolute best.
‘You are the best of the best. Love ya.’
While in an interview with Good Morning Britain, Myar said she would never watch him again after he left her feeling ‘humiliated’.
She branded Peter a ‘bully’ and accused him of singling her out because of her weight.
Weeks later, Peter interrupted his sell-out show to call out a group of hecklers – and order them to be thrown out.
He was forced to step in just weeks after his Lisa lookalike controversy and the group of rowdy men – who he labelled ‘k***heads and cheeky monkeys’ were eventually escorted out.
In the clip exclusively obtained by MailOnline, he could be seen talking to the group who are sat in a box high up to the side of the O2 arena in London.
One man in a white T-shirt can be seen shrugging his shoulders at another member of the audience who is remonstrating with him and telling him to be quiet.
Peter – in a lighthearted reference to the Lisa Riley incident jokes – to the audience: ‘Do any of you look like Lisa Riley in this area. No, alright, let’s just throw that out,’ pointing to the section where the box is.
He adds:’ You look like Right Said Fred in there. You’ve all had too much. Now then what are we gonna do with you now?’
Then as the man carries on heckling Peter can be heard saying: ‘Go on, jump!’
The clip pans back to the man who can be seen pointing to the stage and he puts his hands on hips as Peter says:’ Go on, just jump. See if you bounce,’ to laughs from the audience.
In the clip exclusively obtained by MailOnline, Peter could be seen talking to the group who are sat in a box high up to the side of the O2 arena in London
In response the man wags his finger at the Bolton born comedy legend before Peter adds: ‘Now then, what are we gonna do about this. I’m not getting involved this time.’
Peter then asks the audience to ‘raise your hands if them gentlemen up there in them two boxes are p***ing you off’.
To which the 20,000 all put their hands up followed by loud cheers as Peter ays: ‘Well, I think we need a security team to go up there and deal with them.’
Another man dressed in black is seen smiling and video Peter as he addresses the man in the heckler sat next to him.
Peter said: ‘Right then, I will carry on but if you are rambunctious, you are going home early, you naughty boys,’ as the audience erupts into cheers and applause.
A punter who was in the box next to the hecklers with a group of clients and asked not to be named, told MailOnline: ‘Peter handled it really well, he was a true professional.
‘This lot had obviously been drinking, and they weren’t there to enjoy the show they were just there to make commotion and get attention for themselves.
‘We had paid £250 a person for the seats, and it spoilt what should have been a great night.
Peter halted his London show AGAIN as he threatened to set security on rowdy fans – weeks after booting out ‘Lisa Riley’ heckler (stock image)
‘There were two boxes and there must have been around 30 people mainly blokes and they ruined it for everyone.
‘The noise coming from that direction was really off putting and it was disrespectful to Peter and to the rest of the audience who were there.
‘It began around halfway into the show and carried on for a good while, with the last ones being thrown out just before the end.
‘I think it must have stopped and started four times to deal with them.
‘As I said I thought Peter handled it brilliantly and I felt slightly sorry for him that he had to deal with people like that – if it was me I would have been more aggressive.’
