Comedy legend Peter Kay has playfully predicted a wave of Ofcom complaints for his childhood friend Paddy McGuinness, revealing he deliberately avoids his pal's professional projects. The revelation came during a lively reunion on Paddy's BBC Radio 2 show, following Kay's announcement of a major extension to his ongoing stand-up tour.
A Friendship Forged in Childhood
Peter Kay and Paddy McGuinness, both 52, have been best mates since meeting at nursery school in the 1970s. They attended Mount St Joseph High School in Farnworth together, with their bond later evolving into a successful TV partnership. Kay brought McGuinness into the spotlight on That Peter Kay Thing, which led to iconic roles in Phoenix Nights and Max and Paddy's Road to Nowhere.
Since then, their careers have diverged. Paddy McGuinness has become a household name as a presenter on shows like Take Me Out and Top Gear, while Peter Kay created and starred in Peter Kay's Car Share alongside his monumental live tours.
Radio Reunion and Tour News
The duo's recent on-air meet-up came after Kay confirmed an additional 21 performances for his Better Late Than Never Again tour, extending it through to August 2026. This follows his 2022 comeback after a five-year hiatus from the stage.
During the Radio 2 interview, McGuinness joked about the surreal nature of formally introducing his lifelong friend. Kay responded with his characteristic humour, warning: "This is why I stay away from all of your professional work, because we're going to get nothing but Ofcom complaints and this will be your last show."
The conversation also touched on the pervasiveness of social media content, with Kay revealing he had to ask BBC bosses to stop requesting clips from a previous appearance on Scott Mills' show. McGuinness quipped that for Kay's visit, production had upgraded from an old camera to "a camera phone... an iPhone" propped on a stand.
Why Phoenix Nights Won't Stream on Netflix
In a separate revelation, Peter Kay disclosed that his beloved sitcom Phoenix Nights will not be coming to Netflix or other streaming platforms. He confirmed that the streaming giant had approached him last year about licensing the show.
Kay turned down the offer after learning Netflix intended to add a trigger warning to the series, acknowledging the show, which follows the misadventures of club owner Brian Potter, is "not very politically correct now." He stated he was "not keen" on the warning and politely declined, despite receiving an air fryer which he joked was an attempt to "sweeten" the deal.
However, Kay did offer fans a glimmer of hope for a potential Phoenix Nights film. He confirmed the script is written and ready, but he is waiting for "the de-aging process to come into fruition" to handle flashback sequences convincingly, rather than relying on heavy makeup.
As Peter Kay prepares for his extended tour, his commitment to his original creative vision and his enduring, banter-filled friendship with Paddy McGuinness remain firmly intact.
