Peter Kay said he spent the “first 48 years” of his life trying to lose weight and described a moment he called “shameful” when he realised he had a binge‑eating problem, the comedian said in a rare onstage interview in Salford.
Kay, 52, spoke about his weight and eating habits during an "In Conversation With..." event hosted by Sara Cox at The Lowry theatre that raised money for The Lily Foundation. Asked directly whether he had tried to lose weight, he replied, “Only for the first 48 years of my life,” and described trying a range of programmes, including Slimming World and WeightWatchers.
He recounted a specific episode that crystallised his concerns about binge eating. While at a cinema with his wife, Kay said he feigned a trip to the bathroom but left the screening to eat a hot dog. He said he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a poster for the film Babe and felt ashamed, briefly throwing the food away before retrieving it and finishing it. Kay linked some of his eating patterns to childhood habits, saying his mother would bring pies to primary school for him to eat.
Kay, known for television comedies such as Phoenix Nights and the hit series Peter Kay's Car Share, emerged back into the public eye in 2024 after a prolonged absence. He retreated from public life in 2017 after cancelling a planned comeback tour because of what he described at the time as "unforeseen family circumstances." The cancellation preceded a multi‑year withdrawal from performing and a period in which his social media presence was minimal.
During his absence, reporting indicated Kay spent time in Ireland and limited public appearances. He resurfaced intermittently for charity events and special appearances, including a 2019 screening of Car Share in Blackpool that raised funds for The Lily Foundation and a 2020 BBC Big Night In special in which he took part in a reworked version of the music video for "(Is This The Way To) Amarillo." He later staged fundraising Dance For Life shows and performed in two sold‑out benefit concerts for a 21‑year‑old cancer patient in 2020 and 2021.
In November 2022 Kay announced a return to touring for the first time in roughly a decade, including a monthly residency at London’s O2 Arena. His return to the stage drew strong reactions; during a show in Manchester he was moved to tears when the audience gave him a prolonged standing ovation. He has also continued to support charitable causes, speaking on the work of The Lily Foundation and describing personal connections to the charity’s mission.
In Salford on Monday, Kay spoke candidly about his long struggle with weight management and his difficulties with willpower around food. He said he tried a number of diet programmes and groups and that concern for his long‑term health ultimately prompted more sustained efforts to lose weight. The comments were among the most detailed he has given publicly about his health and eating habits since his return to performing.
Kay’s television series Car Share won the Best Comedy gong at the National Television Awards in 2019; he did not attend the ceremony, and co‑star Sian Gibson accepted on the show’s behalf. Kay has returned to occasional television and live performances since 2020, while maintaining a relatively private personal life.
The Lowry event continued a pattern in Kay’s recent career of combining performance with fundraising and limited public engagements. He has not announced additional personal or medical details beyond his remarks at the Salford interview, and his representatives did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.