Comic speaks on the long-delayed audio version of his book

The audiobook of Peter Kay’s bestselling first autobiography The Sound Of Laughter,​ is being released via Audible next week. Here the comedian talks about why it took so long, his writing process and how he came up with the cover…

So, you’ve finally recorded your first autobiography after 15 years, how did that come about?

I blame the pandemic. Mind you people are still blaming the pandemic for everything. You know I still can’t get porridge at McDonald's because of the pandemic. What’s all that about? It’s oats in a microwave! Or fish fingers with a Happy Meal.

The truth is Audible approached me during the pandemic to ask if I’d like to record my first book, The Sound Of Laughter, in an effort to try to cheer people up a bit. So hopefully it’ll lift people’s spirits. We all need a laugh. Especially without McDonald's doing porridge.

Had you never thought of recording it when it was released?

I recorded the first chapter and brought it out for charity but never got round to recording the rest of the book. I suppose life just got in the way.

You recorded it at home…

Audible said it was fine, so that made everything much more relaxed. I could record at my own pace and that made the whole experience much more fun as I was able to drift off the subject matter and have a different view about it all these years later.

I’d never read the book since I wrote it in 2006. It was fascinating, like reading something that somebody else had written. Although weirdly, even though I knew what was coming next, I’d forgotten so much of what I’d written.

I believe you never intended to write your autobiography

I didn’t, that was the last thing I wanted, but I found out that a book was already being written about me. I wasn’t happy so decided to write my own. If anybody was going to write about me, I thought I’d probably be the best person to do it.

And still holds the record as the biggest selling British autobiography of all time.

Only in hardback, apparently!

But that’s still an achievement to hold after 15 years…

It’s overwhelming. As I felt completely out of my depth when I wrote it. I didn’t start writing until March 2006 and it had to be completed by the June. I remember sitting in my kitchen every day, blue skies outside and there I was typing away. I spent the first few weeks constantly clicking on the thesaurus, looking for better words.

I was so self-conscious, I didn’t even have my English GCSE but then slowly I began to find my own voice, and everything began falling into place. It turned out I really enjoyed writing the book. I just wanted to make it as funny as possible. Something that people could chuckle at on the beach or on their journey to work.

Tell us about the cover…

It certainly stood out. I knew the rival book would have an image of me on the cover so I needed something that would set it apart visually

When I was younger me and my friends would always send birthday cards to each other with heads cut out of magazines stuck on from other people’s bodies. That’s how The Sound Of Music parody came about with my head stuck on Julie Andrews. It also tied perfectly with the book, as I was taught by nuns, and they run through the book constantly. Fast little nuns.

It was important that people would laugh instantly when they saw the book. I even used the same head again on the cover of my second book, Saturday Night Peter.

That was also a bestseller in 2009. How come you’ve never written anything since?

I suppose it’s like I said before life gets in the way. Becoming a dad changed my priorities.

The trick is getting the balance right in your life. I think a lot of people were forced to realise that during the pandemic. I think a lot of people’s priorities will have changed forever now. Hopefully for the better.

Did recording the book make you miss writing?

It really did. Within the first few chapters of recording, I was inspired to start to write a third book. I had the idea about ten years ago. All about working in TV. From when I started doing bit parts in Coronation Street right up to Car Share.

It’s been a real joy recalling the memories. There’s over 20 years of stories about filming series like Phoenix Nights and Max & Paddy’s Road To Nowhere. Appearing on chat shows like Parkinson, at the Queens Golden Jubilee and sharing letters from Ronnie Barker. We wrote to each other for years as pen-pals until he passed away.

So, you’ve been busy working away

I have and I’m very proud of it. I’ll no doubt be recording that book too before you know it.  I just hope people enjoy it as much as this first one.

• Peter Kay’s The Sound of Laughter is available to download from Thursday September 16 for Audible members, or for free as part of a 30-day trial here. Interview supplied by Audible

Published: 8 Sep 2021