Tickets for Peter Kay's stage return sell out in less than 30 minutes

Tickets to Peter Kay's highly anticipated return to the stage have sold out in less than 30 minutes.

The comedian, who has been largely absent from the public eye for the last three years, will host two live Q&As in aid of Laura Nuttall, 20, who has an aggressive type of brain cancer called glioblastoma multiforme.

The two shows, called Doing It For Laura, will take place at the 3,500-capacity O2 Apollo Manchester on August 7.

Both events - at 1.30pm and 6.30pm - sold out within half an hour of going on sale at 9am on Friday and fans were then directed towards a waiting list.

Ms Nuttall, who has just completed her second year at Manchester University where she is studying philosophy, politics and economics, will be in the audience with her family.

She was diagnosed with brain cancer when she was in her first term at Kings College University in London at the age of 18, following a series of headaches.

Her mother Nicola and father Mark first met Kay when they were working at Granada Television almost two decades ago and said they received an unexpected call from the star in January 2019 after Laura was diagnosed.

Mrs Nuttall, who worked in HR at Granada and now runs a children's play centre, previously told the PA news agency:

"We're so excited about it. And it's so wonderful he can do this for us, just incredible.''

Kay has been largely out of the spotlight since a surprise appearance at a charity screening of his series Car Share in 2018.

He cancelled his last tour in December 2017, citing "unforeseen family circumstances''.

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