Peter Kay has clarified that comparing a heckler to Lisa Riley during his show last weekend was not intended as “an insult.” The Bolton comedian addressed the situation after two audience members were removed from his Manchester performance on Saturday night. One woman was escorted out by security after heckling, which included shouting, “We love you, Peter.” Kay reportedly remarked on her resemblance to the Emmerdale actress as she was being taken away.
Another audience member was also ejected for repeatedly shouting “garlic bread,” one of Kay’s well-known catchphrases. In a statement on Instagram, the 51-year-old comedian explained that he felt he had “no choice but to take action” and attempted to make light of the situation, as comedians often do. He shared, “I tried to ignore them, hoping they’d settle down, but when the disruption continued into the second half of the show, I asked the audience around them if they were being bothered by the noise.” The response was overwhelmingly affirmative, with about 40 people raising their hands.
Kay noted, “The lady who was escorted out did bear a striking resemblance to Lisa Riley, though I don’t see how that’s an insult.” He emphasized that while he never wants to remove anyone from a show, it becomes necessary when disruptions hinder the experience of the paying audience.
The heckler expressed her feelings of being “annoyed and upset” by Kay’s comments, stating, “To go to a show and feel like you’re having the mick taken out of you because of your weight, I was just a bit shocked.” She felt that the atmosphere turned hostile, as if Kay was trying to turn the crowd against her.
In contrast, Lisa Riley, known for her role as Mandy Dingle in Emmerdale, stated that she was “not offended” by the mention. Responding to the incident, she shared a lighthearted post on Instagram, encouraging laughter and humor.
