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Comedian Peter Kay has announced he is returning to stand-up before the end of the year, with his first live comedy tour in 12 years.

“If there’s ever a time people need a laugh, it’s now,” wrote Kay on Facebook when he announced the tour. “And, with the cost of living at an all-time high, ticket prices are starting from £35. The same price they were on my previous tour in 2010.”

The tour will traverse the length of the UK and Ireland, starting in 2022 and continuing into 2023.

This comes after the comedian already surprised fans with “secret” shows over the past few weeks, with audiences delighted to see Kay’s return to the stage.

Soon after the annoucement, Kay said that he couldn’t believe it had made headline news. “I should only be on the news if I’m dead, not if I’m on tour,” he joked.

“You’ve got to meet people halfway, it’s bad times, plus that’s why people need a laugh,” he added.

“I think that’s why it was on the news because it was something happy for once and not doom and gloom.”

In addition to his tour, Kay has announced that he will also be performing a monthly residency at the O2 Arena, at Greenwich. He will become the first comedian to be given his own residency at the venue.

“There’s basically been me and Prince who have done it and look what happened to him,” Kay joked, making reference to the US musician’s death in 2016.

Here’s when and where Peter Kay will be performing and how to get tickets.

Peter Kay tour dates

The full list of locations that Kay will be taking to the stage is:

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Peter Kay – In pictures

Peter Kay on stage at The Brit Awards 2010 at Earls Court (Getty Images)

Peter Kay (R) with singer Tony Christie during the filming of the music video of the Christie hit Is This The Way To Amarillo? The hit video was filmed for Red Nose Night Live ’05 (Comic Relief/PA )

Peter Kay, winner of the Male Performance in a Comedy Programme for ‘Peter Kay’s Car Share’ at the British Academy Television Awards 2016 (Getty Images)

Peter Kay in Car Share with Sian Gibson (BBC)

Peter Kay as Geraldine McQueen during the spoof talent show ‘Britains Got The Pop Factor … And Possibly A New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly On Ice’ (PA)

Peter Kay’s Pheonix Nights (Channel 5)

Peter Kay in Doctor Who (BBC)

Bernie Clifton with Pater Kay and Keith Harris during the filming of the music video of the Tony Christie hit Is This The Way To Amarillo? for Red Nose Night 2005 (Comic Relief)

Peter Kay in Car Share with Sian Gibson (BBC)

Tony Christie and Peter Kay from the video to Is This The Way To Amarillo? (Comic Relief)

Peter Kay at Wimbledon (PA )

Peter Kay residency dates

The shows at London’s O2 in Greenwich will run monthly for almost a year, beginning this December.

How to get tickets for Peter Kay’s new tour and residency

Tickets go on sale from Saturday, November 12, at 10am, via www.gigsandtours.com and www.ticketmaster.co.uk.

For Belfast and Dublin tour performances, tickets will be available at https://www.ticketmaster.ie/search?q=peter+kay.