I went into the show open minded, hoping to laugh the night away
12:01, 22 Nov 2025
Peter Kay at the M&S Bank Arena
Peter Kay was one of the first comedians who truly made me laugh. During his long-awaited comeback tour, now spanning almost four years, reviews of the legendary comic have been mixed. So I wasn’t sure what to expect seeing him live, especially as this was my first stand-up comedy gig.
The renowned 52-year-old from Bolton is celebrated for his stand-up as well as Car Share, Phoenix Nights and his appearances with Paddy McGuinness in Max and Paddy.
The current ‘Better Late Than Never’ tour has seen the comedian break all attendance and performance records at Manchester’s AO Arena. Kay also became the first artist to perform a monthly residency at The O2, London, with 45 shows – the highest number played by any artist in the venue’s history.
I had high hopes given his position as one of the nation’s most beloved stand-ups in history. I’ve always been a fan of his sketch comedy, his off-the-cuff banter in interviews and television appearances, and his larger-than-life characters, like Geraldine McQueen, the fictional X Factor winner who dialled up the heat on infamous Loose Women and Good Morning Britain segments.
Setting aside the reviews claiming his comedy fails to bypass a nostalgic laugh, I went into the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena show open minded.
Peter Kay at the M&S Bank Arena
The show opened with the Black Eyed Peas’ I Gotta Feeling – an anthem of its era that slightly filled me with dread that the material might feel just as dated. The curtain with “Peter Gay Live” didn’t help either – a cringe moment before he even stepped on stage.
The first 30 minutes were affected by technical issues although this section also featured some of Kay’s finest moments. Quick one-liners, cheeky audience interactions and light-hearted teasing set the tone for what could have been a great night. The following 30 minutes, however, were a slog.
Peter spent far too long talking about television advertisements instead of delivering jokes. I think this is where a lot of his nostalgia criticism comes into affect. The laughs only landed when his personality broke through.
This was a recurring issue throughout the night. He talked too much. There were long stretches building up to a punchline that never came. Moments where you could tell a joke was coming fell flat because the setup dragged on too long without a satisfying pay off.
There were points where I zoned out because jokes just weren’t being delivered. At one point, despite my positive outlook, I consciously started thinking, “Oh god, this just isn’t funny”. It felt like he realised too because, at one point, he broke the fourth wall to reassure us we were still in the room.
Peter Kay at the M&S Bank Arena
The strongest material kicks in after the late interval when Kay’s quick, snappy jokes that don’t take too long to deliver brought back the sharp wit I love. I found myself thinking, “This is the performer I remember”.
The latter half of the evening was a masterclass in comedy. Joke after joke being delivered without a breath in between that felt like the Peter Kay we knew was back on stage.
I wish I could say the show was great but it was disappointing. I don’t think Kay’s past it because there were solid portions of the evening that made me howl with laughter. But far too much of the set simply didn’t have a punchline. I don’t think I would buy a ticket again.
