Legendary British comedian Peter Kay has announced his first stand-up tour of the U.K. in eight years, an exhaustive tour beginning in 2018 and lasting more than nine months.

The tour will take in nine cities across the United Kingdom, beginning in April 2018 in Birmingham and including Glasgow, Manchester, London, Leeds, Nottingham, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Liverpool. Tickets go on sale on November 19th.

The 44 year old Lancashire-born comic has not toured since 2010, when he finished what was the biggest-selling comedy tour of all time which saw him perform to over 1.2 million people.

“I really miss it,” Kay said in a rather cheeky statement on Thursday (November 16th) announcing the massive tour. “I know how lucky I am to be making television series and have really loved these past few years working on ‘Car Share’ but I miss doing stand-up."

Peter KayPeter Kay is touring the UK for the first time in eight years

“As terrifying as it is, when it works there's nothing more fun and exciting. Plus, a lot has happened in the last eight years, with Trump, Twitter and my Nan getting her front bush trimmed at the age of 96. I can't wait to get back up on stage.”

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Since taking a break from the live circuit, Kay has won plaudits for his BAFTA-winning BBC sitcom ‘Car Share’. He also played a character in ITV’s ‘Cradle To Grave’, and starred with a cameo role in the BBC’s dark comedy ‘Inside No.9’.

Kay also helped to re-open the Manchester Arena back in September this year, after the venue was left devastated by a terrorist attack in May. He had performed there over 40 times in his career, having worked there as a steward before he was famous.

The comedian has also been responsible for spear-heading the Dance For Life charity events, which see him DJ and turn large arenas into giant dancefloors to raise money for cancer charities.

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