BY anyone's standards, Peter's rise to fame has been rapid.

Six years ago the former pupil of Mount St Joseph's School, Farnworth, was living in Daubhill and working as a cinema usher, at the now derelict ABC Cinema in Bradshawgate.

The Salford University graduate fitted in his stand-up comedy around his job at the time, honing his skills at venues across the North-west.

At the time, unaware of just how meteoric his rise to stardom would be, he said: "I'm still doing my other job as an usher at Bolton's ABC cinema on Bradshawgate -- I'll never be too much of a star to give that up."

But then, events overtook him. In 1997, Peter won Channel 4's So You Think You're Funny competition, for new stand-up talent.

He returned to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1998 and his sell-out show was nominated for the coveted Perrier Award.

He then scooped the awards for Top Stand Up and Top TV Comedy Newcomer at the British Comedy Awards.

In the same year Peter stood in for Johnny Vaughn presenting The Big Breakfast, The Sunday Show and performed at the prestigious Royal Variety Performance.