Death, selfies with medics… and a slice of ‘garlic bread’ for the dads: Peter Kay may be stones lighter but his act is more heavyweight than ever – as he updates his ‘everyman’ routine with an insight into his five years away from the limelight

And although the comedian has never shed light on what triggered a lengthy career break, his triumphant return to the stage after 12 years has seen seen him comically divulge a medical nightmare and open up about the death of a relative.The Bafta-winning star’s long-awaited comeback tour was postponed five years ago for ‘unforeseen family circumstances’.

Touching on his health on the opening night of his tour last December, Kay described the indignities of a recent kidney stones operation – an experience which went from bad to worse when an anaesthetist asked him for a selfie.

As male members of the audience were left uncontrollably laughing and wincing at the same time, it also marked the closest time the public has ever got to any explanation of Kay’s exile from the limelight. The Bolton-born comic has shocked fans with his dramatic weight loss over the last year and even referenced it during the Manchester comeback show.