Comic was not involved in film 'at all'

Peter Kay’s team have slammed Channel 5 for misleading fans.

The broadcaster last night aired a documentary called Peter Kay: In His Own Words, promising ‘ favourite clips [and] interviews with the man himself.’

However the comic’s representatives took the rare move of issuing a statement on Twitter denouncing the programme.

It said: ‘Very flattering of Channel 5 to commission the programme going out tonight, but just to let people known that Peter Kay: In His Own Words has an incredibly misleading title, as it doesn't feature any new interviews with Peter and all the footage is completely historic.

‘The title also gives the impression that Peter has been involved in the making of this documentary, which he hasn't. At all.’

It was the first Twitter post in more than two months on Kay’s official account. The comedian has been away from the limelight since cancelling his tour in December 2017 due to ‘unforeseen family circumstances’.

However he was out lat night watching Nativity! The Musical at the Eventim Apollo Theatre in Hammersmith, West London.

The director of the play, Debbie Isitt, shared a photo of Kay along with cast members Simon Lipkin and Scott Garnham.

So lovely to see the brilliant comic genius Peter Kay and his lovely family @nativityuk tonight for our final show! What a lovely surprise for us all! 💫⭐️💫⭐️💫⭐️💫⭐️ pic.twitter.com/XkzYdmeGnB

— Debbie Isitt (@DeborahIsitt) December 29, 2019

It's been eight months since he was last photographed at the Peter Pan pantomime in Crewe alongside comedy double act Tommy Cannon and Bobby Ball.

The blurb for the Channel 5 show read, in part: ‘This special features favourite clips from all Peter's television comedies, from Phoenix Nights to Car Share, plus behind-scenes stories and interview footage filmed over the years with the man himself.’

Kay has previously been accused of recycling old material himself. When he was building his stand-up fan base a decade ago, he was criticsed for cynically releasing DVD of repackaged footage rather than new specials.

Published: 30 Dec 2019