Peter Kay has defended his decision to eject three disruptive audience members from his Manchester show, insisting their behaviour was spoiling the experience for others.
The 51-year-old comedian addressed the incident, which took place during his Better Late Than Never Again! tour on Saturday after some accused him of making a “cruel” joke about one of the hecklers by comparing her to Lisa Riley.
In a statement read by Susanna Reid on Tuesday’s Good Morning Britain, Kay explained: “I didn't realise it was an insult. She did look remarkably like Lisa Riley, I didn't realise that was an insult.”
Reid also stressed that the comedian told the show overnight that “he felt he had no option but to remove the hecklers and said they were spoiling the show.”
Adding: “There comes a point when dealing with repeated hecklers simply isn't enough. It's not something you ever want to do, but it becomes a point when it's no longer fair to everyone around.”
Riley has since responded, showing her support for Kay and downplaying any issue between the pair.
Posting on Instagram, she reassured fans: "Please draw a line under this now, I am not offended, never was offended. I love Peter Kay to pieces. Laughter is my favourite medicine.”
She also shared a quote reading, "Keep calm and laugh," reinforcing her lighthearted stance.
Fans at the Manchester gig have also defended Kay’s actions, with many backing his decision to remove the disruptive audience members.
One witness claimed the hecklers "absolutely deserved" to be thrown out, telling MailOnline that the move was met with loud cheers from those nearby.
Kay was reportedly left frustrated by a man repeatedly shouting "garlic bread", a reference to one of his famous stand-up routines. Shortly after, a woman who yelled "We love you, Peter!" was also removed.
Then the comedian allegedly had his security team turn on all the venue lights after a man interrupted his routine about kidney stones for the third time by shouting.
With the arena fully illuminated, he pulled up a chair on stage and instructed security to remove the disruptive audience member and his companions, according to the outlet.
Witnesses claim the man and his son became verbally abusive toward security before being forcibly removed. "One on each leg and one on each arm," a source described, as four guards carried him out of the venue.
Although the incident prompted accusations that Kay was being "nasty and bitter”, audience members insisted the hecklers were drunken troublemakers who had been disturbing the show for others.
The furore comes four months after Kay announced 21 additional dates, extending his Better Late Than Never Again! tour into 2025 and 2026. Kicking off this month, the new leg spans 16 cities, including his first-ever shows at Aberdeen P&J Live, Brighton Centre, Bournemouth International Centre, and the Isle of Man’s Villa Marina.
Since kicking off the tour in December 2022, Kay has shattered multiple records. He became the first artist in the world to sell out 45 shows at London’s O2 Arena and performed an unprecedented 100 shows at the Manchester AO Arena, setting new attendance and performance benchmarks.
