Peter Kay's statement in full as he doubles down after throwing out 'hecklers' at Manchester show

Peter Kay has said he 'doesn't see' how comparing a 'heckler' he had removed from a show in Manchester to the actress Lisa Riley was an insult.

The Bolton-born comic made the claim in a lengthy statement on social media in which he doubled down after he came under fire from some of his own fans for having two members of the audience removed whilst performing on Saturday night.

The drama unfolded after a man shouted out Kay's catchphrase 'garlic bread' during his routine at the AO Arena. Those two words prompted a fierce response from the Phoenix Nights and Car Share star, who has been performing the Better Late Than Never tour since 2022.

"Kick him in the f****** face, will you? Everyone around you is thinking ‘pr**k’ he shouted at the min. Shortly afterwards, A woman - who has since come forward as Myar Curran, 25, from Scotland - then begins to chant: "We love you Peter, we do. We love you Peter, we do."

Take her out and all while you’re up there, will you? Take her out" Kay says. After a further exchange, he says: "Go on, Lisa Riley, f*** off. Go on. Out you pop flower, go on."

Ms Curran said she took the comparison to Emmerdale star Riley to be a reference to her weight. She told the Manchester Evening News she was "annoyed and upset" about being ejected, saying: "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."

However, in a statement, posted on social media, Kay denied it was an insult and defended his actions. "At the show on Saturday night, February 8th, in Manchester I had two hecklers disrupting from the very start" he said in the statement posted on Instagram.

"I did my best to address the situation and made light of it, as any comedian