Comedian Peter Kay became emotional onstage at the first night of his mega-tour which is set to run until 2025. His last tour in 2018 was suddenly cancelled before it started due to unforeseen family circumstances.

Appearing at Manchester's OA Arena for the first show Kay was given a standing ovation when he walked on and said: " "How am I supposed to do comedy now? You'll have me in bits... I can't believe you made me cry."

Early reviews suggest that while Kay may not have radically changed his style of comedy he is on top form. Brian Logan in The Guardian wrote: "You can’t help but submit, not just to the spectacle, but to Kay’s commitment to celebrating his generational experience. Top Cat, the Bodyform advert, Blockbuster video: Kay doesn’t just joke about these Proustian madeleines of our shared youth – he fashions his whole show into a hymn to them."

The Telegraph's Dominic Cavendish wrote: "This is his most sugary evening to-date. There are affectionate reminiscences about former odd-jobs, including as a steward at this selfsame arena, mingled with gossipy anecdotes about coaxing Eric Clapton to sign a woefully cheap guitar and the times he has been caught with no clothes on."

Emily Baker wrote in The i added: "Peter Kay had barely said hello to his adoring, roaring crowd before he began to sob. It was the first time he’d been on stage as a stand-up comedian in 12 years and the immediate standing ovation and the gravity of his return hit him like a ton of bricks."

There are still some tickets available for shows, particularly later in the tour. Click here for ticket link.