Peter Kay said he spent "the first 48 years" of his life trying to lose weight and described a "shameful" moment when he realised he had a problem with binge eating, speaking in a rare personal interview at The Lowry theatre in Salford on Monday.
The 52-year-old comedian, who re-emerged in public slimmer in 2024 after a multi-year absence, told an audience at an "In Conversation With..." event hosted by broadcaster Sara Cox that he had tried numerous diets and weight-loss programmes before confronting his eating behaviour. "Only for the first 48 years of my life," he said when asked whether he had ever tried to lose weight. "I tried everything. Good God in heaven. I mean, you go to flaming weight-loss groups and stuff like that. I joined Slimming World and WeightWatchers. I did all of them."
Kay recounted a moment during a cinema outing with his wife, Susan, when he said he excused himself to use the restroom but left the screening to buy and eat a hotdog. He said he caught a glimpse of his reflection in a framed poster for the film Babe and felt ashamed. He described throwing the hotdog into a bin and then retrieving it before it hit the bin liner, and subsequently eating it. Kay linked his adult eating habits to childhood experiences, saying his mother used to bring him pies to primary school.
The appearance was staged to raise funds for the Lily Foundation, a charity that supports children with mitochondrial disease. In a post on his blog, Kay said he had seen the charity's work first hand. The event marked one of his more public discussions about personal health and weight loss since his return to the stage and television.
Kay's remarks come after a period away from the spotlight that began in 2017, when he cancelled a much-anticipated comeback tour citing "unforeseen family circumstances." Following that cancellation, he largely retreated from public life for several years. He made intermittent returns for charity events and brief public appearances, including a 2018 charity screening of his show Peter Kay's Car Share and a 2019 surprise appearance at a fundraising screening in Blackpool.
Peter Kay's Car Share won the National Television Award for Best Comedy in 2019, a prize he did not attend in person; a co-star collected the gong on behalf of the show. In 2020, Kay took part in the BBC's Big Night In special and announced plans for Dance For Life shows before the COVID-19 pandemic forced postponements. He later performed two benefit shows to raise funds for a young cancer patient.
In November 2022 Kay announced a return to touring after a 12-year hiatus, including a monthly residency at London's O2 Arena. He received prolonged standing ovations on nights such as his first Manchester show, where he was visibly moved. Those returns culminated in a higher public profile during 2024, when the comedian appeared noticeably slimmer, prompting renewed attention and questions about his health.
Kay's public comments at The Lowry are among the most explicit he has made about his long-term attempts to lose weight and his struggle with binge eating. He did not outline a specific treatment plan at the event but framed the issue in the context of health concerns and lifelong efforts to control his weight.
The comedian remains involved in charitable work and occasional performances. His remarks at the Salford event add to an intermittent but sustained public re-emergence after several years away from touring and television.