Award made from its canvas as he starts his London residency

Bosses at The O2 have given Peter Kay an award to mark his record-breaking run at the London arena.

On Friday, the comic embarked on the first of 29 shows at the venue – a monthly residency that will see him returning to Greenwich until April 2025.

Counting previous gigs means he will have played a total of 44 gigs at the landmark, the most shows any artist has performed there – beating the previous record of 34, set by Take That.

Kay was presented with the award – which is made from a segment of The O2’s roof that was ripped off by Storm Eunice in February – on stage at the end of his gig at the O2 on Friday.

Alex Hill, president of the venue’s operators, AEG Europe,  who is pictured above with Kay, praised the comic for his ability to fill the vast space so frequently.

It prompted Kay to reflect on other artists who had done almost as well, including Prince, who played 21 nights there in 2007, and Michael Jackson, who died just a few weeks before he was due to start a 50-night residency in 2010 – and wondered if it didn't auger well.

But he later said: ‘What an absolute honour to play the world famous The O2 – London, let alone a monthly residency. A truly incredible response. Here’s to many joyful nights in the years to come.’

Emma Bownes, vice-president of venue programming at The O2 added: ‘Being the first artist in the world to have a monthly residency at the venue, and to sell out every show is an astonishing achievement, and something we’re really proud to have worked on..

‘The first show was incredible and had every audience member in stitches, and we can’t wait for many more nights of laughter to come.’

At the end of his performance at the O2 on Friday, Kay offered to donate £14,000 – £1 for every member of the audience – to the charity Action for Children.

While dressed in a Santa outfit, Kay said: ‘While reportedly dressed in a full Santa costume, the 49-year-old told the enthusiastic crowd: ‘I think Christmas is about doing good things for other people so we’re gonna take a pound off each of you. ‘I’m going to put it in a children’s charity and I was looking at my phone on the way down and I found one called Action for Children.’

‘They do a Secret Santa and it seems really lovely. There’s 14,000 people here, so if I take a pound that’s £14,000 for children on your behalf. So thanks!’

The charity said: ‘Thank you Peter Kay for choosing us for this very generous donation. Many children will wake up on Christmas to no toys, food, or warmth. We need Secret Santas like you to help put the magic back into Christmas.’

Kay last performed at The O2 as part of his 2010 tour, which secured a  Guinness World Record as the biggest-selling comedy tour of all time, shifting 1.2million tickets. It was surpassed in 2014 by Jeff Dunham who sold 1.4million for his Spark of Insanity tour.

» Review of Peter ​Kay​ at the O2

» Peter ​Kay​​ tickets and tour dates

Published: 19 Dec 2022