What happened to Peter Kay: disappearance, illness update, wife, children, tour and net worth

Peter Kay is a gifted comedian, comedy writer, and actor. He is one of the funniest people in the United Kingdom and beyond, receiving praise for his talent from fellow comedians and fans. Kay has appeared in multiple television and film productions and authored several books. Discover what happened to Peter Kay and his whereabouts.

Key takeaways

• Peter Kay is a famous comedian from the United Kingdom.
• He is a self-proclaimed homebody and family man who would rather be at home with his children and spouse than out doing shows.
• Kay is passionate about making the world a happier place.

Profile summary

What happened to Peter Kay?

Fans and followers were surprised when the famous comedian announced he would be taking a break from his career in December 2017. Kay cancelled his Live Arena Tour and all of his work projects due to unprecedented family circumstances.

After the announcement, it was reported he had relocated to Ireland with his family. The comedian has spoken about how fame is not as important to him as his family is.

On 6 November 2022, he announced his return to stand-up comedy. His comedy tour began in December 2022 and is set to end in July 2025. Talking about his return, he said:

It's good to get back to what I love doing best, stand-up comedy.

Peter Kay returned to TV in December 2024. He voiced PC Mackintosh in Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, reprising the role from Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

Who is Peter Kay?

Peter John Kay is one of the most popular and respected comedians in the United Kingdom. His uncanny sense of humour has attracted numerous people towards him. The talented comedian is also an actor, producer, author, and screenwriter.

How old is Peter Kay?

Comedian Peter Kay is 51 years old as of May 2025. He was born on 2 July 1973, and his Zodiac sign is Cancer.

Where is Peter Kay from?

The comedian and actor is from the United Kingdom. He was born and raised in Bolton, Lancashire, England. His nationality is British, and his ethnicity is Irish.

Peter Kay’s family background

The comedian's father's name is Michael John Kay. He was an engineer who passed away right before his son's career took off.

His mother is Margaret Deirdre O’Neill. The famous comedian was raised in a strict Roman Catholic household. He has a sister named Julie.

Are Peter Kay and Vernon Kay related?

Although they share a surname, Peter and Vernon are not related. Vernon Kay is an English broadcaster and former model. He is best known for Extras, Shaun of the Dead, and Keith Lemon: The Film.

Where did Peter Kay go to school?

The comedian went to local elementary and high schools in England. After graduating from high school, he joined the University of Liverpool to pursue a degree programme in Drama, Theatre Studies and English Literature.

He struggled with the course, so he dropped out. He joined the University of Salford's Adelphi Campus School of Media, Music and Performance instead and pursued a Higher National Diploma in media performance.

On 19 July 2016, he received an Honorary Doctor of Arts degree from the University of Salford. The award was in honour of his contribution to the world of entertainment.

Why is Peter Kay so popular?

Kay is famous for his comedy, but his journey to stardom has not been a breeze. He survived on odd jobs in his late teenage years and early adulthood before becoming a globally recognised comedian.

He worked in a toilet roll factory, a Netto supermarket, a petrol station, a cash and carry, and a bingo hall. His experiences in these workplaces shaped the person he is today.

The comedian began his television career in the 1990s. He is also actively involved in theatre productions and stand-up comedy shows.

Acting career

The English comedian has multiple actor, writer, director, and producer credits. Some of Kay's credits are listed in the table below.

Television series and movies

Films and videos

Some of the comedian's work in film and video is documented in the table below.

Writing/ directing/ producing

In addition to acting, the comedian is a writer, producer, and director. Some of these credits are listed below.

• Car Share
• Special Kay
• Britain's Got the Pop Factor
• Comic Relief (I'm Gonna Be) 500 Miles
• Max & Paddy's The Power of Two
• Phoenix Nights
• Britain's Got the Extra Pop Factor and Then Some 2 + 1

Authorship

The comedian has authored several books, and some are best sellers. His books are listed below.

• Saturday Night Peter by Kay
• Saturday Night Peter
• Phoenix Nights: The Scripts
• The Book That's More Than Just a Book - Book
• The Sound of Laughter: The Autobiography of Peter Kay

Stand-up comedy

The comedian's passion is making the world happier through laughter. He started stand-up comedy at a local cinema. After the cinema shut down, he became a contestant and won So You Think You're Funny?

Eventually, he started hosting stand-up shows and tours. Today, his events sell out within minutes, and he is recognised as one of Britain's top stand-up comedians.

If you wish to know the latest details of his tours and shows, you should check Peter Kay’s official website. Fans can also buy Peter Kay's tickets from the site.

Was Peter Kay in Doctor Who?

Yes, on 17 June 2006, he appeared in an episode of Doctor Who. The episode was titled Love & Monsters.

What is Peter Kay's net worth?

The comedian has an alleged net worth of $70 million. His wealth comes from his illustrious comedy, authorship, and acting career. He has spent some of his cash on homes.

He has properties in England and Ireland. His Ireland property is secluded. He spent some time at home when he was on a comedy hiatus. Though wealthy, the famous comedian is not flashy.

Is Peter Kay married?

The comedian and actor is married to Susan Gargan, a lady who prefers to live her life away from the cameras. The lovebirds first met in 1998 in a nightclub in Bolton.

At the time, Peter Kay's wife was employed at a local Boots, while Peter worked at the local cinema. After striking up a conversation in the club, Susan agreed to go on a date with him the next evening.

During one of their first dates at Blackburn Ice Arena, an accident happened, and the two were rushed to the emergency room. The lovebirds dated for a while and got married in 2001.

Peter Kay's children

The famous comedian and Susan Gargan are blessed with three children. The name of Peter Kay's son is Charlie Michael Kay. The other two remain unknown in the public domain.

Why did Peter Kay stop performing?

The comedian went on a temporary career hiatus to focus on his family. During that period, he lived in Ireland. He has since resumed his comedy career and is thriving.

Fundraising for Bolton Octagon Theatre

In December 2023, the comedian broke off from his tour to raise funds for Bolton Octagon Theatre. This was a special thing for him because he once worked in the theatre.

He raised £80,000 for the venue, which was a big boost to the theatre. He raised this amount by performing three two-hour sets. His tickets sold out within minutes of being made available to the theatre's patrons, members, and mailing list subscribers.

What was Peter Kay's illness?

News of Peter Kay's illness spread far and wide not too long ago. There have been reports that the comedian was battling cancer, but that is incorrect information. He is not terminally ill, and neither does he have cancer.

Rumours of battling cancer were fueled by the fact that he is quite vocal about the disease and does charity events to support cancer research and patients.

Is Peter Kay's illness cancer?

No, the comedian does not have cancer. In early December 2022, the comedian disclosed he had undergone surgery for kidney stones. He left the audience in stitches as he recalled his hospital trip to have the operation.

Is Peter Kay's wife ok?

In 2020, it was rumoured that the comedian's wife had cancer. News of Peter Kay's wife's cancer turned out to be erroneous. Susan Gargan came out and dismissed the rumours as false.

In 2021, he briefly made a comeback from his break to fundraise for Laura Nuttall, who had been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. Laura Nuttall and Peter Kay are family friends.

What is Peter Kay's Dance for Life?

In 2020, the comedian announced he would host three-hour parties called Dance for Life, but the events were pushed to the spring of 2022 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tickets for the events sold out within 30 minutes.

During these parties, he assumed the moniker DJ PK and took over the turntables to offer attendees a lifetime experience. Talking about the Dance for Life events, he said:

All people have to do is turn up and dance. I'd also like to encourage people to get themselves sponsored via justgiving.com where a special Dance for Life team page has been set up.

The monies collected from the parties were donated to cancer research foundations in England.

How did Peter Kay respond to hecklers?

In mid-February 2025, Peter Kay kicked two hecklers out of his show at the Manchester Arena. Talking about the incident, he said:

I did my best to address the situation and made light of it, as any comedian would, but unfortunately their interruptions continued.

What is Peter Kay doing now?

After taking a hiatus, Peter Kay now does stand-up comedy. He is on his first tour since returning from his 2017-2022 hiatus.

Peter Kay's height and weight loss

The comedian has undergone significant weight loss in recent years. He now appears leaner and healthier. Fans were surprised by how lean he looked after his comedy hiatus. It is worth noting that Peter Kay's weight loss was not due to cancer.

Right before his London tour in early January 2024, he was spotted walking in East London in a black hoodie, tracksuit bottoms, and cosy slippers. Talking about the show, he 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. 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.

Before taking a hiatus from his career, he weighed about 267 lb or 121 kg. It is apparent that he lost weight when he was away, but his new weight is yet to be confirmed. When he made a comeback, he joked about weight loss.

The comedian is 5' 8" or 174 centimetres tall. He has green eyes and dark brown hair.

Trivia

• The comedian and his spouse are the directors of Goodnight Vienna Productions.
• He made the Guinness World Record for the most successful comedy tour.
• He is an animal lover.
• He has fronted several adverts for beer on British TV, but he is teetotal.
• He grew up in the town of Farnworth, Greater Manchester.

Peter Kay is a multi-gifted artist. He is a comedian, actor, author, and philanthropist. Fans have expressed curiosity about what happened to Peter Kay. He took a break from comedy in 2017 and recently made a comeback after a long hiatus and is currently doing a stand-up comedy tour.

Legit.ng recently published Matt Rife's biography. Rife is an American actor and comedian. He is best known as a leading cast member on MTV’s Wild ‘N Out.

He is also famous for his self-produced comedy specials, including Only Fans, Matthew Steven Rife, and Walking Red Flag. His 2023 Netflix special, Natural Selection, earned him more fame.

Source: Legit.ng