COMEDIAN Peter Kay is looking forward to making his debut as a director on the second series of Phoenix Nights.

Filming for the new series is due to start at St Gregory's Social Club in Farnworth in three weeks.

The comic, who recently returned from a two week honeymoon in Mexico, is hoping to organise a stand-up tour for the end of next year.

The TV star married his long-term girlfriend Susan last month at St Osmund's RC Church in Breightmet.

The wedding was followed by a reception at Mytton Fold Farm in Blackburn.

He had plenty of moral support on the day thanks to his four best men, including Pat McGuinness, who plays doorman Patrick in Phoenix Nights.

He said: "It was a great day. Pat made a great speech and everyone was taking sweep stakes on my speech lasting for hours, but I didn't make any notes and just got up there and spoke off the top of my head."

The wedding remained a celebrity-free zone, despite the couple having invited their showbiz pal Eric Clapton.

The Bolton comic became friendly with Eric earlier this year after discovering that the rock star is a huge fan of Phoenix Nights and has invited the legendary guitarist to appear in the second series.

Peter said: "He couldn't come to the wedding.

"I have invited him to come to Farnworth for the filming, but we'll just have to wait and see."

Phoenix Nights is likely to be shown on Channel Four in March.

Peter, a former Mount St Joseph's School pupil, will be making his directing debut with the series, which could be the last.

He said: "I'm itching to do more stand-up and Phoenix Nights might have gone as far as we can take it."

Peter joined in the fun at the 30th birthday party of a Bolton company today.

The comic enjoyed a drink with the staff of office furniture supplier GF Pennington and Sons at Fletcher Mill to thank them for providing the props for the series.