Peter Kay has revealed he is writing a third autobiography and was inspired by recording his first one for an audiobook.

He recorded The Sound Of Laughter, which holds the record of being the biggest selling hardback autobiography in British history, from home during lockdown, and said: “Hopefully it’ll lift people’s spirits.”

At the time of publication, Kay recorded the first chapter of the book, which has sold more than two million copies worldwide, and released it for charity – but never actually completed the rest.

Discussing recording it at home, Kay said: “Audible said it was fine, so that made everything much more relaxed.

“I could record at my own pace and that made the whole experience much more fun as I was able to drift off the subject matter and have a different view about it all these years later.

“I’d never read the book since I wrote it in 2006. It was fascinating, like reading something that somebody else had written.

“Although weirdly, even though I knew what was coming next, I’d forgotten so much of what I’d written.”

The Bolton funnyman added that he never actually planned to write an autobiography, and decided to take the task on when he learned that someone else was writing a book about him.

He said: “I wasn’t happy so decided to write my own. If anybody was going to write about me, I thought I’d probably be the best person to do it.

“I didn’t start writing until March 2006 and it had to be completed by the June. I remember sitting in my kitchen every day, blue skies outside and there I was typing away.

“I spent the first few weeks constantly clicking on the thesaurus, looking for better words.

“I was so self-conscious, I didn’t even have my English GCSE, but then slowly I began to find my own voice, and everything began falling into place. It turned out I really enjoyed writing the book.

“I just wanted to make it as funny as possible. Something that people could chuckle at on the beach or on their journey to work.”

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In 2009, he released a second book, Saturday Night Peter, which also became a bestseller.

Addressing why he had never thought to write before, he said: “I suppose life gets in the way. Becoming a dad changed my priorities.

“The trick is getting the balance right in your life. I think a lot of people were forced to realise that during the pandemic.

“I think a lot of people’s priorities will have changed forever now. Hopefully for the better.”

However, he said recording the book made him miss writing and there is now a new book in the works.

He said: “Within the first few chapters of recording, I was inspired to start to write a third book.

“I had the idea about 10 years ago. All about working in TV. From when I started doing bit parts in Coronation Street right up to Car Share.

“It’s been a real joy recalling the memories. There’s over 20 years of stories about filming series like Phoenix Nights and Max & Paddy’s Road To Nowhere.

“Appearing on chat shows like Parkinson, at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and sharing letters from Ronnie Barker. We wrote to each other for years as pen pals until he passed away.”

He added: “I’m very proud of it. I’ll no doubt be recording that book too before you know it. I just hope people enjoy it as much as this first one.”

Kay made his stage comeback last month for a special charity Q&A to raise money for 20-year-old Laura Nuttall, who has an aggressive brain cancer.

However, until then he largely been out of the public eye, after cancelling his 2017 tour due to “unforeseen family circumstances”.

The Sound Of Laughter will be available on Audible from 16 September.

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