all o-kay now Peter Kay treats Lisa Riley to VIP gig experience after comparing evicted heckler to Emmerdale star
It came following the scandal surrounding his Manchester show last month
PETER Kay treated soap star Lisa Riley to a VIP experience at his most recent gig after the comedian sparked a scandal with his recent reference to the Emmerdale stalwart.
The Bolton-born stand-up kicked a series of hecklers out of his Manchester Better Late Than Never … Agin show in February, after one repeatedly shouted his signature “garlic bread” catchphrase.
Peter Kay posed for a smiley selfie with Emmerdale actress Lisa Riley after his recent quip about the soap star caused controversyCredit: Twitter
In doing so, they disrupted proceedings at the city’s AO Arena with Peter, 51, calling on security to have them removed in a stance which some branded “harsh and embarrassing.”
Yet Phoenix Nights star Peter came under further heat when he compared one heckler – who shouted “we love you Peter Kay” – to Lisa, 48.
He couldn’t resist a distasteful dig as the event disturbee made her way through the aisles, with audience members claiming he said: “Have a drink have we?
“Go on, off you go Lisa Riley.”
He was referring to the Emmerdale actress, who plays Mandy Dingle, and has spoken openly about her battle with booze.
Yet after he broke his silence on the “lookalike” comparison furore, it appears things are smooth between Peter and Lisa.
The screen queen took to her Instagram page to upload a series of snaps showing her smiling with Peter at his recent gig at Leeds’ First Direct Arena.
Proving all was well, she shared an image showing her with her head on his shoulder as they posed with her mates, before uploading a snap showing them together backstage.
Lisa then captured the bright lights of the stage as well as her and her pals in the crowd.
In her excited caption she gushed: “THANK YOU so so so much Peter for the most fantastic night last night at @firstdirectarena we laughed until it hurt-the show is absolutely hilarious.
“We were up until way gone midnight reciting all the jokes – northern at its absolute best.
“My best mate Floss and my God-Daughter Chloe had the most beautiful night-smiling from ear to ear and still laughing this morning.”
She added: “It was OUTSTANDING…..so much nostalgia that warms your heart.”
BREAKING SILENCE
Peter previously spoke out on the matter in a statement to ITV show Good Morning Britain and said of the heckler comment: “I didn’t realise it was an insult.
“She did look remarkably like Lisa Riley, I didn’t realise that was an insult.”
The statement added: “There comes a point when dealing with repeated hecklers simply isn’t enough.
“It’s not something you ever want to do but it becomes a point when it’s no longer fair to everyone around.”
Actress Lisa also broken her silence on the debacle at the time.
She addressed the fallout on Instagram and wrote: “Please draw a line under this now, I am not offended, never was offended.
“I love Peter Kay to pieces. Laughter is my favourite medicine.”
She also shared a picture of the quote “Keep calm and laugh” on her grid and added: “It’s a laugh, it’s funny!”
She also posted about “seeing the good in life”, sharing a quote: “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.”
SPEAK OUT
Yet the gig-goer at the heart of the scandal appears to be less forgiving.
Scottish fan Myar Curran, 25, has vowed to never see the comedian again after he humiliated her.
Talking of his quip, she said: “I do feel he was on about my weight.
“I’m self-conscious about that so 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.
“I’m annoyed and upset about it. The whole arena was laughing, I think they thought it was part of the show but there was a nastiness to his voice.”
Talking of her cheering from the crowd, she added: “I didn’t mean to cause any harm, I was just showing my love as he kicked someone out but he obviously didn’t like it.”
“I feel like what I said was not abusive or aggressive – it wasn’t anti-social and I wasn’t drunk.
“I was just standing up chanting ‘we love you Peter, we do’. It’s just been a bit over the top, his reaction.”
