Peter Kay has spoken candidly for the very first time about the dramatic weight loss that shocked fans during his comeback — admitting he had spent most of his life “trying everything” to escape a painful, private battle with binge eating.
The beloved comedian, 52, re-emerged last year after a five-year break with a noticeably slimmer physique. But behind the transformation was a deeply personal journey, one that began with years of failed attempts, frustration, and a moment of painful clarity that forced him to rebuild his life from the inside out.
“I tried everything… good God in heaven, everything.”
“I tried everything… good God in heaven, everything.”At an In Conversation With… event hosted by Sara Cox at The Lowry theatre — broadcast later on BBC Radio 2 — Peter opened up about the long road that brought him here.
“I tried everything. Good God in heaven,” he confessed.
“Slimming groups, WeightWatchers, Slimming World, gym sessions… even my mum’s old Rosemary Conley tapes. I did all of them.”
But the turning point came during an ordinary day out at the cinema with his wife, Susan.
Peter recalled sneaking out under the guise of going to the toilet — only to buy a hotdog.
As he passed a framed poster for Babe, he caught his own reflection.
“I thought, ‘Look at you. What are you doing?’ I felt ashamed.”
Yet moments later, after throwing the hotdog in the bin, he admitted he pulled it back out before it hit the liner — and ate it anyway.
For Peter, that moment revealed the truth he had avoided his whole life:
he wasn’t just overeating — he was battling a lifelong compulsion.
He shared that the habit began in childhood, when his mum would bring pies to his primary school for him to snack on.
Health fears forced him to make a promise — and a change
Peter said his dramatic weight loss came only after he became seriously worried about his health.
“It was time,” he shared. “Time to stop pretending it wasn’t a problem. I made myself a promise — that I would change, properly change, before it was too late.”
That promise, he revealed, became the spark for a transformation far bigger than himself.
A mission bigger than weight loss: giving every tour profit to 12 cancer charities
During a recent appearance on This Morning, Peter stunned viewers again — this time by revealing that all profits from his 2026 ‘Better Late Than Never’ tour will be donated to 12 cancer charities, including:
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Children With Cancer UK
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Teenage Cancer Trust
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Kidney Cancer UK
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Blood Cancer UK
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Bowel Cancer UK
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Prostate Cancer UK
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DKMS UK
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Ovarian Cancer Action
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Pancreatic Cancer UK
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Anthony Nolan
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The Brain Tumour Charity
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Breast Cancer UK
“Everybody knows someone affected,” he said.
“You don’t even have to like me — it goes beyond that. This is about supporting people.”
The announcement earned heartfelt praise from multiple organisations, with Blood Cancer UK calling it a “milestone moment,” and The Brain Tumour Charity expressing “deepest gratitude” for his support.
A viral TV moment: calling out Cat Deeley — gently
During the same This Morning interview, Peter unintentionally went viral after lightly teasing Cat Deeley for repeatedly saying “yes… yeah… mmhm” while he listed the charity names.
Laughing, he clarified, “I’m not laughing at bowel cancer — it’s because she keeps saying ‘yeah’!”
Fans praised the moment online, calling him the first guest to “finally say what we’re all thinking.”
A return built on honesty, resilience, and purpose
Peter Kay’s comeback isn’t just about a slimmer frame — it’s about a man who confronted a lifelong battle, chose to change, and transformed that journey into something profoundly meaningful.
His weight loss is part of the story.
But the true narrative is resilience, vulnerability, and a newfound mission to help others.
And that mission — supporting 12 cancer charities across the UK — may be his most powerful legacy yet.
Source adapted from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/