Though it’s been over two decades since Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights graced our screens, its legacy as a true gem of British comedy stands undiminished. Despite whispers of a third series cropping up in the late 2000s, the curtains remained firmly drawn on this classic.
In his latest book, TV: Big Adventures on the Small Screen, Peter Kay has dropped a tantalising revelation that’s sure to get tongues wagging. He’s been toying with the idea of a film adaptation for the much-loved show.
Phoenix Nights, stemming from ‘In the Club’ episode of That Peter Kay Thing, features Kay’s iconic role as Brian Potter, the wheelchair-bound head of The Phoenix Club. The series, known for its memorable auditions, also boosted Tony Christie’s ‘Amarillo’ to chart-topping fame.
While Peter Kay emphasised a Phoenix Nights return must be exceptional, a film adaptation remains a potential option.
Reflecting on potential plotlines, Peter Kay mused, “If Phoenix Nights rose again, it’d have to be for something very special, maybe a film? Perhaps Brian could get visited by three ghosts. Now, wouldn’t that be an idea?”
Dishing out more details about his brainwave, Kay quipped: “I had an idea only today of Brian getting Young Kenny to paint an enormous letter ‘H’ on the roof of the club so he can advertise they’ve got a helicopter pad. The chance of a helicopter ever landing is, of course, zero.”
Paddy McGuinness, Kay’s co-star in Phoenix Nights and its spin-off, previously hinted the cast is eager for a revival.
Peter Kay recalled in his book,“All I can remember is a lot of laughter, especially from Paddy and me.” Elaborating on McGuinness’s notorious tardiness, he added, “That’s when he managed to turn up for filming. He was a bugger for being late in the morning.”
“Paddy slept in all the time. We’d get a message from his driver picking him up: ‘He’s not answering the door. Eventually, he’d get to us, and we’d all be sat waiting because we couldn’t film anything without him. We were in every scene together. A right pain in the arse.”