Sara Cox and Peter Kay spoke to each other about growing up in Bolton and the current state of life.
Peter Kay has admitted he has battled with weight issues for years – and has slimmed down as he “started thinking about his health”. In a new interview with Sara Cox on Radio 2 the comedian promoted his new book which includes funny tales about him trying to shed the pounds doing various fitness routines.
But Kay, who looked in great health during TV appearances last week, admitted in between his usual gags, he has been serious about wanting to lose weight for some time. When Sara asked if he ever tried to lose weight, Kay, 52, replied: “Only for the first 48 years of my life. Yeah, I had to eventually, because you start thinking about your health and things like that, don’t you? But I tried everything, flaming weight loss groups. I did quite well at one point.”
He recalled a 2000 incident where his wife and I went on a night out with him in Bolton and he said, “I once went watching Green Mile with Susan at a movie theater in Bolton. Green Mile is three hours long. We were seated in the back row on a Sunday night because it was packed.
“But I was sat there and thought, “Well, I fancy a hotdog,” I said. So I said, “Susan, I’m going to the toilet.” So I headed out, went down, and bought a hotdog while maintaining my diet. I shove in this hotdog because I claimed to have taken a wee while hiding in the closet. I sat down for a moment and said, “Look at you, you should be ashamed of yourself.” And I grabbed it just as the bin liner was about to hit it!
What have I missed, I went back in, ran up, and sat back down, and said? ‘. You had a hotdog, she said, and I said, “I have not,” and she said, “I can smell it on your breath.” That’s how unfaithful to God is.
“I used to exercise. Rosemary Connolly’s fitness video was once available to my mother. Do you remember them? And I tried to breathe while putting it on once more in the back room. And I sagged sweating all the way through. And she said, “Now that we’ve warmed up,” I thought, “Warmed up?” !
“Then I joined David Lloyd in a Bolton gym.” And you consider, “Yes,” before adding weights. I then went to pool because it was simpler. You understand why I halted my trip. Men are speaking to you unclothed.
On a Monday night, I went to high-energy aerobics. Everyone would grab a mat in a high energy. I once carried a two-liter bottle of Tizer to the back. And then I went to a central Manchester old school gym where a lad had me pull a tire outside and I joined him there under some arches. Really, it was awful. I used to tell him I needed a wee and would go to the toilet and sob because it was so typical of old school.
Bolton born Kay’s stand up tour has been extended yet again, and for the final shows next year proceeds from his Better Late Than Never shows will go to 12 cancer charities. “Unfortunately, everybody knows someone who’s been affected on that list [of 12 charities] and I just hope people support it,” Kay said last week.
On Radio 2 he was also asked about his comedy heroes by Sara and told how one of them was unwell at the moment. He explained: “I have been really lucky because I have met them all. I met Ronnie Barker. I’d always absolutely adored Porridge, used to watch Porridge. Oh. Anyway, I wrote to him, and he wrote back. I mentioned I loved Porridge, and I’d said how much it meant to me.
“One day, this letter arrived, and it said “prison,” and I thought, “Who has written to me from prison?” And when I opened it, Her Majesty’s Prison Slade recognized him as Norman Fletcher, and he had written me a two-page letter about being imprisoned.
“And I also met Billy Connolly.” Billy Connolly is still in touch with me, but he’s not very good right now. Without him, I believe that many comedians in this country would not be able to do what they did. He heavily influences it, in my opinion, in large part. Amazing . “
Sara Cox is on Radio 2 on weekdays from 4 to 7pm while Peter Kay’s Diary: The Monthly Memoir of a Boy From Bolton is available.
