Comic revives idea he's been talking about for 18 years

Peter Kay has revived hopes of a Phoenix Nights comeback, possibly as a film.

The comic has revealed that he still writes down ideas involving the staff at the fictional working men’s club, more than 20 years after it was first shown on TV

Writing in his new book, TV: Big Adventures On The Small Screen, Kay said: ‘I still write down ideas.

‘I had an idea only today of Brian getting Young Kenny to paint an enormous letter "H"  on the roof of the club so he can advertise they’ve got a helicopter pad. The chance of a helicopter ever landing is, of course, zero.

‘As the years pass, I’m becoming more like Brian, but if Phoenix Nights rose again it’d have to be for something very special, maybe a film?

‘Perhaps Brian could get visited by three ghosts. Now, wouldn’t that be an idea?’

Phoenix Nights ran on Channel 4  from 2001 to 2002, with the cast reunited for a successful run of shows at the Manchester Arena in 2015, raising £5million for Comic Relief.

Kay also said he wants to film a new episode of the 2004  spin-off Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere, in which he and Paddy McGuinness played the club’s bouncers on the run around the UK.

The pair have written a Christmas  episode in which their characters work in a grotto, dressed as elves, where they are "overly aggressive" with the kids.

Kay added: ‘Just reminiscing about it again makes me realise how much of a joy it might be to film it one day and work with Paddy again.’

The comic, 50, has been talking about a Phoenix Nights film for almost 20 years.

As long ago as 2005, he said: ‘I've got enough funny stuff, and then off we go again. I’m thinking of doing a film.’

In 2011, he spoke of the idea again, following the success of The Inbetweeners big-screen outing.

He said he had been approached by producers, and had a script ready to go, saying: ‘‘It's written, I've written it. It's done. They've even asked me, with this Inbetweeners film, if you want to make a film of it.’

And n 2020 a prerecorded announcement shown at a screening of the classic sitcom in London, he told fans: ‘People always ask, "Will there be more Phoenix Nights?" and I can now confirm that there won’t – but I am thinking of this film.’

But  McGuinness has poured cold water on the rumours, In 2016, he said bluntly: ‘That’s not happening, let me tell you.’ 

Published: 24 Sep 2023