Comedian Peter Kay looked almost unrecognisable after his major weight loss as he stepped out in London, years after cancelling his shows and moving out of the public eye
Comedian Peter Kay looked unrecognisable as he was spotted on a rare public outing.
The beloved stand-up – who recently made his grand return to TV in the Christmas special of Wallace and Gromit – was seen having a stroll in the London, where he has continued his Better Late Than Never tour, which has taken him across the country over the last three years.
Peter, 51, was seen hopping back on his tour bus at the O2 Arena, with his next stop scheduled in Manchester on February 7. The star looked casual and low-key for his outing, showing off his slim figure in a simple black fleece and blue jeans along with a backpack and hat.
The Cradle to Grave actor’s lack of winter coat showed off his dramatic weight loss, making him almost unrecognisable after his years away from the spotlight.
Peter has stepped back from the public eye after he cancelled his 2018 and 2019 tour, with the star pausing his career at the time and rarely being seen out and about. At the time of the cancellation, he said in a statement: “Due to unforeseen family circumstances I deeply regret that I am having to cancel all of my upcoming work projects. This unfortunately includes my upcoming stand-up tour, Dance For Life shows and any outstanding live work commitments.
“My sincerest apologies. This decision has not been taken lightly and I’m sure you’ll understand my family must always come first. I’ve always endeavoured to protect my family’s privacy from the media. I hope that the media and the public will continue to respect our privacy at this time. Once again I’m very sorry.”
After his cryptic statement, he was next spotted when he made a surprise appearance at a charity screening of his TV series Car Share in 2018, before being spotted on a tram tour in Blackpool in April 2019.
In April 2020, he made a star appearance on BBC’s Big Night In as part of the recreation of Tony Christie’s Amarillo video, before finally returning to the stage in April 2022 for a gig in Manchester and dates in Liverpool.
After his return to the stage, Peter got back to touring properly in late 2022. That November, he was brought to tears on the opening night of his first live comedy tour in 12 years. The comedian received a rapturous standing ovation which lasted several minutes, with audiences chanting his name, as he took to the stage.
Peter’s return to comedy has been a major success, with the star raking in an incredible £27 million from his 35 touring gigs in 2024, according to the official tour earnings rundown by US analytics firm Pollstar.
Better Late Than Never was named as one of the most globally successful tours of last year, with his staggering earnings placing him fourth in the planet’s most lucrative shows by comedians – only eclipsed by US stars.
Alongside his huge earnings from just last year, Peter has made it to the top of the rich list of British comedians, with a £34.6 million fortune. The Office co-creator Stephen Merchant bagged second place, but was still a way behind Peter with a £26.2million fortune that has been fuelled by his roles in box office hits such as Jojo Rabbit, and BBC One’s hit crime comedy The Outlaws.
Even beyond the money, Peter’s tour is making him the first artist in the world to perform a monthly residency at The O2, London, performing 45 shows, the most played by any artist in the venue’s history.
Better Late Than Never was due to wrap up in December 2025, but in November, due to “overwhelming demand,” 21 new performances were added. This will take the tour up to February 2026, with new shows in Aberdeen, Liverpool, and Cardiff, before finishing up on the Isle of Mann.
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