WHEN Bolton funnyman Peter Kay got up at wedding to tell a few jokes 12 months ago, he never dreamed it would the first step on the road to a new career as a comic.

And last night, just three performances later, he burst onto the comedy scene by winning the prestigious City Life North West Comedian of the Year.

The contest, held at the Palace Night Club in Levenshulme, featured 10 top comics from around the region including Jenny Ross, the joint winner of the BBC New Comedy Awards and has boasted such past winners as Caroline Aherne, the woman behind Mrs Merton.

Peter was the last act in a marathon of mirth compered by fellow Boltonian Dave Spikey.

With members of the audience flagging as the night approached its conclusion, Peter woke them up with his incredible fast and furious routine mixing quickfire gags, hilarious observations and ad libbing, feeding off a raw nervous energy.

There was enough material in his 20 minute set for at least three performances, such was the speed of the delivery.

Peter who lives in Croston Street, Daubhill, works at Bolton's ABC cinema on Bradshawgate as an usher and has completed an HND course in performing arts at Salford College.

His comedy kicked off when he was Best Man at his friend's wedding and performed a routine, but it was when he won a distinction in the stand-up module of his college course that he was urged take his comedy seriously.

He contacted Agraman, one of driving forces behind the surge in comedy in Greater Manchester and was booked to appear in a heat for the Comedian of the Year at the Buzz Club in August.

As well as being a superb performer, Peter also has a talent for writing and his first play, The Year My Voice Broke was recently performed at the Octagon.

Today, Peter, a former pupil at Mount St Joseph School, was still reeling from his achievement.

He said: "I'm still a bit bewildered by it all. I couldn't believe it when I was announced as the winner because I was up against some people who had been on the circuit for six or seven years.

"The stuff I had done previously was a lot more dry and slower, but last night, by the time I came on a lot of the audience were hot and tired and I just wanted to wake them up so I speeded things up a lot.

"I'm not sure what will happen from here, I'll just have to wait and see how things go."

Anyone wants to see Bolton's latest comedy talent can catch him at the Boardwalk in Manchester on Sunday night.

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