Peter Kay joins Instagram after taking a break from the spotlight

Peter Kay has officially joined Instagram after taking time away from the spotlight.

The comedian has generally kept a low profile over the last five years after he cancelled a 14-month stand-up tour due to “unforeseen family circumstances” in 2017.

Now Bolton-born Kay has shared with fans on Twitter that he has signed up to the photo sharing app to promote surprise dates for his tour.

The pair of tweets marked his first since September 2021.

The first featured a picture of a poster for his show Peter Kay's Dance for Life which will take in dates in London, Manchester and Liverpool.

It is in aid of Cancer Research UK.

His second tweet read: “Peter is now on Instagram please give him a follow his new official account.”

So far, the new Instagram account only has two photos – a shot of Kay and the same promo poster for his dance party.

Kay - who lives with wife Susan and their three children - delighted fans last August when he made an appearance at a charity gig at Manchester's O2 Apollo.

Overwhelmed by the response, he told the crowd: “I’ve never in my life had a standing ovation when I came on. I'm going to go away for four more years.”

The popular star’s 2010-11 tour made it into the Guinness World Records after he performed to more than 1.2million people.