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Peter Kay devastated fans in 2017 when he announced that he would be cancelling his long-awaited comeback tour due to ‘unforeseen family circumstances.’

The comedian, 50, who on Sunday was pictured boarding his tour bus, noticeably retreated from the spotlight for five years following the cancellation.

At the time speculation was rife among fans about the reason for his absence, with Peter’s social media also plunged into silence until March 2018, when he return to announce a charity screening of Peter Kay’s Car Share.

The event was held to raise money for The Lily Foundation, which helps children with mitochondrial ­disease, and in a post on his blog, Peter detailed how he had ‘first hand’ experience of the charity’s work. 

Peter then completely disappeared from public life for a year, and reportedly relocated to Tipperary, Ireland, where locals claimed he seemed determined to fly under the radar. 

Peter Kay devastated fans in 2017 when he announced that he would be cancelling his long-awaited comeback tour, sparking a five-year absence fomr the spotlight

Peter Kay devastated fans in 2017 when he announced that he would be cancelling his long-awaited comeback tour, sparking a five-year absence fomr the spotlight

The comedian, who was pictured on Sunday, noticeably retreated from the spotlight aside from few public appearances

The comedian, who was pictured on Sunday, noticeably retreated from the spotlight aside from few public appearances

At the time, one resident told The Sun: ‘Peter clearly wanted to keep a low profile and did everything he could to avoid attracting attention to himself while staying here.  

You’d never see him in the local pubs or restaurants, and he always seemed to be alone. Most people only ever saw him passing through.’ 

The resident added that while Peter was determined to keep a low profile, his expensive Range Rover somewhat gave the game away.

In November 2017, Peter briefly touched on his second property in Ireland, saying on The Late Late Show: ‘I don’t talk about it because I don’t want it to get robbed. We’ve had a house here for 12 years.

‘We come here all the time. Whenever there’s a school holiday, really. We give Christmas a miss because the house is freezing. It takes ages to warm up.’

Peter Kay’s Car Share was awarded the Best Comedy Gong at the National Television Awards in 2019, but he failed to attend the ceremony, leaving co-star Sian Gibson to collect the gong on their behalf.

Handing Sian the prize, Peter’s former Phoenix Nights co-star Paddy McGuinness joked: ‘Where is he? Where is he?’, prompting her to say he was ‘watching from home with a cup of tea.’

Sian went onto hint that she and Peter were already planning more projects together, after Car Share came to an end in 2018.

After retreating to his second home in Ireland, Peter briefly resurfaced in a snap taken while riding a tram in Blackpool in 2019

After retreating to his second home in Ireland, Peter briefly resurfaced in a snap taken while riding a tram in Blackpool in 2019

In December of that year, Peter also attended the Peter Pan pantomime in Crewe and Nativity! The Musical in London, posing for a snap with director Debbie Isitt

In December of that year, Peter also attended the Peter Pan pantomime in Crewe and Nativity! The Musical in London, posing for a snap with director Debbie Isitt

He then went onto perform two sold-out Dance For Life shows in 2021, to raise money for Laura Nuttall, a woman battling aggressive brain cancer

He then went onto perform two sold-out Dance For Life shows in 2021, to raise money for Laura Nuttall, a woman battling aggressive brain cancer

In April 2019, Peter resurfaced for the first time in many months, making a surprise appearance at a screening of Car Share at Blackpool Opera House, which raised £34,000 for The Lily Foundation.

While visiting the beachside town, Peter also posed for a snap with fans riding the tram on the coast.

In December of that year, Peter also attended the Peter Pan pantomime in Crewe and Nativity! The Musical in London, posing for a snap with director Debbie Isitt.

‘So lovely to see the brilliant comic genius Peter Kay and his lovely family @nativityuk tonight for our final show!’ she wrote on social media. ‘What a lovely surprise for us all.’ 

In February 2020, Peter announced his return to the stage with six Dance For Life shows, but they were sadly postponed due to the Covid pandemic.

The funnyman did make a short return to TV in April 2020 for BBC’s Big Night In Special, as part of a reworked version of his iconic music video for (Is This The Way To) Amarillo.

He then went onto perform two sold-out Dance For Life shows to raise money for Laura Nuttall, 21, who had an aggressive type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme. She sadly died in May 2023.

In November 2022, Peter then delighted the nation by announcing he would be returning to touring for the first time in 12 years, including a monthly residency at London’s O2 Arena.

Taking to the stage for his first night in Manchester, Peter was moved to tears as he received a standing ovation from the audience that lasted several minutes.

Struggling to compose himself following the reaction, Peter told the crowd: ‘Oh Jesus look at me, I mean what’s that all about… how am I supposed to do bloody comedy now?’

‘Lovely Manchester you made me cry… where did it come from, all that emotion?’

Peter has become the first artist in the world to get a monthly residency at London’s O2 arena and has upcoming dates at the venue from February until April 2025.

The Live In London tour is Peter’s first stand-up show in twelve years and Peter has said: ‘Audiences in London have always been amongst the best in Britain, plus I think seeing the show could be part of a nice weekend away treat.

In November 2022, Peter then delighted the nation by announcing he would be returning to touring for the first time in 12 years, and received a standing ovation

In November 2022, Peter then delighted the nation by announcing he would be returning to touring for the first time in 12 years, and received a standing ovation

Peter shocked fans after appearing in a rare photograph as he performed his stand-up show in May last year

Peter shocked fans after appearing in a rare photograph as he performed his stand-up show in May last year

‘It’s good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy and if there’s ever a time people need a laugh it’s now. 

‘And with the cost of living at an all-time high, ticket prices are starting from £35. The same price they were on my previous tour in 2010.’

According to the venue’s website, Peter’s 2010 tour still officially ranks with the Guinness Book of World Records as the biggest selling comedy tour of all time.

Peter shocked fans after appearing in a rare photograph as he performed his stand-up show in May last year. 

And the comic spoke of his own appearance, saying: ‘See how much weight Peter Kay has lost.’

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This post first appeared on Daily mail