Peter Kay has shared about a “devastating” family loss. The 52-year-old confesses he “adored” his grandfather who had a “huge influence” on his career.
The Bolton-born funnyman recalls spending hours playing with his grandad after school. The duo would “play army” with Peter “rolling around making shooting noises” and his grandfather pretending to shoot him with a stick.
However, tragedy hit for Peter in 1990 when his grandfather passed away. In his new book, Peter Kay’s Diary, he opened up about his grandfather’s death.
He said: “I completely adored him and was devastated when he died in 1990. Much too young at sixty-eight.
“My grandad had a huge influence on me. He had a happy personality, always placid and content. Forever cracking jokes and forever in my memory he’s smiling. I rarely ever saw him angry or fed up.”
The comedian, renowned for his observational humour and heartwarming storytelling, says he would spend time with his grandfather after school or during the holidays. He says his parents often worked “long hours” during the day.
His grandfather meanwhile was forced to take early retirement after developing lung disease having worked as a stoker on steam trains and down coal mines. Peter added: “It must have been tough, and his pride would have been knocked as he’d always grafted.
“I knew he found it hard doing nothing, so he filled his days looking after me and getting out and about.”
The Car Share star also opened up about Remembrance Day in his book. He says his grandad would take him when he was a child.
Peter recalled walking into town wearing his poppy with pride as he headed to the town hall square, absorbing the spectacle of the parades and music.
“It was always emotional seeing crowds gather each year. The dwindling number of ex-service men and women… I was always impressed by the parades that marched past the cenotaph. The music, and the pivotal moment at eleven o’clock when the ‘Last Post’ is played by a lone bugle, followed by the moving two-minute silence,” he said.
He fondly recalled the sensory impact of the event, even the startling moments.
“Tanks would fire and I’d jump out of my skin. I still do. An old man leaned over to me and whispered, ‘That bang frightens the young’uns every year.’ I thought, ‘Yeah and some of the adults too. I suffer from globophobia, buddy.'”
However, Peter admitted that not all modern ceremonies live up to the solemnity he remembers.
“Sadly, the respect had somewhat waned this year. When we had the two-minute silence, somebody received a text message. ‘Beep, Beep.’ Then a woman right in front of me was vaping. And somebody brought a bloody puppy. Barking and yapping all through the service. Rude f******,” he said.