DVD review by Steve Bennett

Some people might this DVD and think this was another live stand-up show from Peter Kay. I don’t know why they might get that impression, it surely can’t be the giant words ‘Peter Kay Live’ on the cover.

But this is no stand-up show. It’s a corporate video for Brand Peter Kay – all sped-up footage of arena sets being constructed cut with sunsets over British cities, slow-motion scenes of him basking in audience adulation and vox-pops of his smitten fans, set to a bed of off-the-peg ‘inspirational’ royalty-free music which probably has a motivational title like The Eagle Soars!

Most comics might have released this making-of footage as a DVD extra; but not Kay, who makes it a standalone release. He’s got form in this field of course, having previously had the gall to serve up scraps and repeats in such cynically exploitative titles as Stand Up UKay and Peter Kay’s Special Kay.

Perhaps wary of the damage done by such criticism, this sleeve proudly boasts: ‘Includes over 55 minutes of NEW live stand-up.’ Someone must have had their stopwatch out, as this is not a continuous set, but snippets scattered around the film.

Most of it comprises out-takes from the tour; bits of business with audience members drunk or otherwise annoying that he has to deal with. More comes from his – admittedly very good – idea of training a camera on the arena audiences so he can mock them for all to see on the big screen. Pretty much all of this is along the lines of comparing the various punters to famous people who have let themselves go, though, so it gets old quickly.

The only chunks of stand-up routines tend to involve Kay simply describing what happens in reality TV shows, including Supernanny, Secret Millionaire and My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. It all happens to an almost constant roar of laughter, so he must be doing something right, even if there’s often nothing inherently comic in what he’s saying.

That’s he’s a brilliant comedy god is backed up by the completely unbiased views of fans interviewed outside the gigs. 'He's fucking legend,’ says one. ‘He’s the People’s Comedian,’ says another, in all sincerity. He truly is the Princess of all our hearts... There’s also praise from various local radio DJs advertising forthcoming gigs. Not that Kay ever gets interviewed, it’s just the announcers doing their regular ‘what’s on’ duties.

Meanwhile, actual behind-the-scenes footage includes him appearing on the Jonathan Ross show and demolishing the scenery, arsing about during regional weather reports, and watching the Royal Wedding in his hotel room. It's like a fairytale,' he says with the originality and insight that has made him one of Britain’s biggest-earning comedians.

But ‘it's not about money,' he tells an audience at a warm-up gig, as part of a Q&A session included on this £14 bestselling DVD. He’s clearly done all right out of the record-breaking tour, too. There’s footage here from one show where he donated the evening’s takings to charity – a cool £300,000 – presumably the figure he normally trousers himself. Not bad for a night’s work, especially for someone who, as he repeatedly tells us, used to eke out a few extra quid as a steward at the Manchester Arena. Now he plays two mammoth 20-night runs there

It’s easy to mock this DVD, as Kay gives so much ammunition to that cause. Yet despite the lack of any insight, Live And Back On Nights is a perfectly watchable, occasionally – as in when a power failure takes out the giant video screens on opening night – interesting. It’s well-made and you might even find yourself drawn in, if you caught it on telly late at night. But pay good money for it? Then the joke’s on you...

Published: 5 Dec 2012