Peter Kay has announced he is returning to live stand-up with his first tour in 12 years.

The 49-year-old has been largely absent from the public eye for the past four years.

He sparked headlines in 2017 when he cancelled his last 14-month tour at short notice due to “unforeseen family circumstances”, leading to widespread speculation about the comic’s health.

Kay’s tour will travel the UK and Ireland between December 2022 and August 2023.

His last one was in 2010, when he gained the Guinness World Record for the biggest-selling run of all time – playing to a total of 1.2 million people.

He announced his comeback during an advert break for ITV’s new series of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Kay said: “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.

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“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.”

The tour, which begins on 2 December, will visit locations including Birmingham, Liverpool, Sheffield and Dublin.

Tickets go on sale online on 12 November.

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