Fans' fury at Peter's old gags

Furious Peter Kay fans have been complaining they feel ‘ripped off’ by his latest DVD.

They say his new Live At The Manchester Arena release is almost identical to his top-selling Live At The Bolton Albert Halls release of 2003.

Both discs were recorded during his mammoth Mum Wants A New Bungalow tour, although the newest one, which made No 6 in the Christmas DVD chart, is billed as a ‘special farewell performance’ of that show. However, the stand-up segment of the Manchester show runs at just 47 minutes, compared to 100 minutes for the 2003 release.

But for the £22 price tag of the new title, fans do get a new behind-the-scenes documentary and the Is This The Way To Amarillo? video.

Many people who bought the new title have been in contact with Chortle to complain. One fan, Anne Paton, said: ‘I feel a little ripped off. Isn't it time he had some new material?’

Another, called Carly, said: ‘I really enjoyed the first two Peter Kay DVDs, but I thought this one was a lazy attempt at making more money. All of the jokes he used were the same as he had used before, and I felt like I had wasted my money’.

Ben, who emailed in on Christmas Day, added: ‘I was very disappointed. It appears to be purely a money making scheme in time for Christmas. The man is a genius, no doubt, but he's done himself no favours this time around

Adrian Hughes says he will even take the case to trading standards officers, saying the new title was a ‘complete waste of time and money’.

The sentiment is repeated on other websites, including Amazon and the Virgin Megastore website, where fan Victoria, from Hull, said yesterday: ‘I am totally shocked. I am such a fan but it is the same gags from Bolton Albert Hall.’

As well as the stand-up DVD, Kay also released a ‘greatest hits’ CD before Christmas and a Max And Paddy keep-fit DVD on Boxing Day. And his appearances in Coronation Street as well as a short pilot show from early in his career were released on another disc in time for Christmas.

Published: 29 Dec 2005