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Peter Kay returning to stage for first time in three years with charity shows

Peter Kay has not appeared live on stage since 2018. (PA)
Peter Kay has not appeared live on stage since 2018. (PA)

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Peter Kay has announced he will be making his first live stage appearance in three years.

The 48-year-old comedian - who retreated from the limelight in December 2017 when he cancelled an upcoming live tour due to "unforeseen family circumstances" - has not been seen on stage since his surprise appearance at a charity screening for Peter Kay’s Car Share in 2018.

Kay's official Twitter account has now revealed he will be performing two very special live Q&A’s at the Manchester O2 Apollo in just 10 days time - on 7 August 2021.

Tickets for the matinee and evening performance will go on sale at 9am on Friday 30 July in aid of Laura Nuttall, a 20-year-old student who was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer in 2018.

Read more: Peter Kay announces BBC return after absence for personal reasons

Kay shared a link to Nuttall's Facebook page Doing It For Laura, fundraising to pay for the potentially life saving immunotherapy treatment she is having in Cologne, Germany.

A message on her Facebook page read: "I still can't quite believe this is really happening! We are so incredibly grateful to Peter for this x"

Laura Nuttall [C] with her mum Nicola and sister Gracie earlier this year. (Doing It For Laura/Facebook)
Laura Nuttall [C] with her mum Nicola and sister Gracie earlier this year. (Doing It For Laura/Facebook)

Since being diagnosed with Grade 4 Brain Cancer; Glioblastoma in October 2018 Nuttall has been travelling to Germany for expensive immunotherapy treatment that is not yet available in the UK, as well as working to tick life experiences off her bucket list.

In March this year her family revealed she was in her second year at Manchester University studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics, whilst also travelling back and forth to Cologne for treatment.

Her Go Fund Me Page stands at over £14,000 of an £80k target, but her family estimate that they have spent £150k to date on treatment and the travel costs involved.

Kay has been absent from social media since October 2020.

Watch: Peter Kay has kept a low profile since 2017 'for personal reasons'

Last year he made a rare public appearance as part of the BBC's The Big Night In charity fundraiser.

The Phoenix Nights star appeared on screen in a sun hat and licking an ice lolly as he introduced a recreation of his and Tony Christie’s 2005 Amarillo video.

Kay cancelled all of his work commitments in 2017 due to “unforeseen family circumstances” and since then has only made a couple of rare public appearances to support charity work.

Peter Kay appeared on the BBC's 'The Big Night In' fundraiser in 2020. (BBC)
Peter Kay appeared on the BBC's 'The Big Night In' fundraiser in 2020. (BBC)

He was on TV in 2018 for two special episodes of his sitcom Car Share and had been due to begin touring again earlier this year, but had to cancel because of the coronavirus pandemic.

In April 2018 he raised over £34,000 for for The Lily Foundation, a charity that researches mitochondrial disease, with a special screening of Car Share at the Blackpool Opera House.

The Cradle To The Grave star is married to Susan Gargan and they have three children together, with Kay fiercely guarding his family’s privacy.

Peter Kay and Sian Gibson in 'Car Share'. (BBC)
Peter Kay and Sian Gibson in 'Car Share'. (BBC)

Cancelling his Dance For Life tour at the beginning of 2020 he said: “Obviously this is disappointing news but well and truly justified given the circumstances.

Read more: Peter Kay is planning a 'Phoenix Nights' film

“We'll get through this, together and then we'll all have a great big dance for life.

“Stay safe and look after yourselves and the people around you.”

Buy: Peter Kay Tickets when they go on sale at 9am on Friday 30 July

Watch: Jason Manford on fairground ride in Scarborough 'does' Peter Kay during filming of new show