Peter Kay looked totally unrecognisable in his first public appearance in over a year.

The comedian, 51, has been embarking on a UK-wide stand-up tour which proved to be a sell-out, after taking a long hiatus from showbiz.

Now he looks completely different as he showed off his slimmed down frame as he left London’s O2 Arena and headed back to his tour bus.

Wearing a pair of dark blue denim jeans, Peter added a simple black zip-up jacket over the ensemble, with a matching pair of black shoes and a baseball cap pulled over his head. The star was seen adjusting his black backpack as he departed the arena and hopped aboard his waiting vehicle.

The Bolton-born star appeared in good spirits in a very rare public appearance, after announcing an extension to his tour due to high demand. It’s not expected to finish until at least 2026.

In 2017, Peter left fans devastated as he cancelled his tour due to “unforeseen family circumstances”, announcing: “Due to unforeseen family circumstances I deeply regret that I am having to cancel all of my upcoming work projects.

“This unfortunately includes my upcoming stand-up tour, Dance For Life shows and any outstanding live work commitments. I hope my fans will understand my family must always come first and I am very sorry.”

He moved to Tipperary in Ireland to keep a low profile before returning to comedy in December 2022.

According to Mail Online, he lived in a secluded rural home close to Lough Derg, a freshwater lake in the Shannon River Basin. Peter’s mum Deirdre is from Coalisland in Co Tyrone, and Peter confirmed to Ireland’s The Late Late Show he owns property there.

However, despite taking a hiatus, Kay topped the 2024 Rich List as he is estimated to have amassed a fortune of £27million thanks to his tour.

Tickets to his gigs cost an average of £59.70, earning him a huge chunk of money for each event. He announced 21 new dates in November 2024, which will begin next month and come to an end in February 2026.

Peter’s last tour has already seen him break records after selling out 45 dates at London’s O2 Arena, making him the only artist to do so in the world.