Paddy McGuinness says he’s ‘so proud’ of Peter Kay as he breaks silence on record breaking tour (Image: mcguinness.paddy/Instagram)
has been sharing his experiences of working with his co-star in the comedy hit Phoenix Nights.
The comedian enlisted his school friend to portray his best mate Paddy O’Shea in the series, with Peter playing fellow Bolton doorman Max Bygraves. Following the show’s success, the pair starred in their own spin-off, Max and Paddy’s Road To Nowhere, which started in 2004 and lasted for a single series.
However, filming for the show wasn’t entirely smooth. In his new book TV: Big Adventures on the Small Screen, Peter recalled: “All I can remember is a lot of laughter. Especially from Paddy and me. That’s when he managed to turn up for filming.
“He was a bugger for being late in the morning.Peter reveals that ‘Paddy slept in all the time,’ causing issues for the production team. He elaborates: “We’d get a message from his driver picking him up: ‘He’s not answering the door.
“Eventually, he’d get to us, and we’d all be sat waiting because we couldn’t film anything without him. We were in every scene together. A right pain in the arse.
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The pair worked together (Image: Phoenix Nights)
Kay struggled with driving the motorhome for the show, referring to it as a “huge beast” and admitting that parking was a challenge that often resulted in costly mishaps. He recounted: “I was forever hitting walls and clipping other vehicles as we drove past, leaving the art department with their heads in their hands, reports .
The duo’s friendship dates back to their days at Mount St Joseph High School in Bolton, and they have maintained a strong bond ever since.
Paddy has expressed his pride in Peter’s achievements and was quick to support his friend’s comeback tour on last year. Dad of three Paddy expressed his admiration for a childhood friend, stating: “I don’t often speak about Pete and his achievements on my socials. He’s been a mate since childhood and that’s how I always see him.
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The pair have been friends for years (Image: Getty)
He continued to praise his friend’s unparalleled success in the entertainment industry: “Regardless of all the great things he’s achieved on television there’s literally no one who comes close to what he does live. The amount of tickets he sells is unheard of in the comedy world and beyond!
“Concluding with heartfelt pride, Paddy added: “He’s a one off folks, enjoy him, I don’t think you’ll see the likes of him again. Certainly not in our lifetime. I’m very proud you son. PS I haven’t got tickets. PPS I don’t need any.”