Peter Kay has shared the terrifying moment he discovered he needed emergency surgery after being struck by excruciating kidney stones — an ordeal he described as feeling like his “world collapsed.”
The much-loved Bolton-born comedian, 52, recounted the painful episode during a train journey from London to Wigan, explaining that what started as a stomach ache rapidly turned into one of the worst experiences of his life.
The Max and Paddy star revealed his symptoms began on Friday, and by Sunday his lower right back was “throbbing,” prompting him to seek medical help.
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In his new book, Peter Kay’s Diary, he wrote: “I didn’t feel well at all, so I did what anybody would do in the situation — I looked up my symptoms with Dr Google. It was looking like a kidney stone.”
His self-diagnosis proved accurate. “Fast forward twenty-four hours and my suspicions were confirmed via a CT scan at the local hospital. It turned out I had a big stone blocking the exit of my right kidney,” he said, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The doctor then delivered the alarming news that he required immediate surgery. “He reassured me but said I needed emergency surgery to remove the kidney stone, which would also involve having a stent fitted up my urethra (Franklin) in order to maintain my kidney functions.”
As the pain intensified, the comedian’s famed wit was pushed to its limits. “Kidney stone pain is legendary, and I was starting to sob and make the occasional high-pitched whining sound. Like when you fire an air rifle at a dog’s testicles.”
The Car Share favourite was informed that surgeons would deploy a tiny laser-equipped camera to “blast the kidney stone to smithereens.”
However, it was only when the urologist explained how they would access the kidney that Kay truly panicked.
“Oh my God, he means he’s going in through the hole at the end of my penis,” he recalled in horror. “My world collapsed. Red lights flashed in my head. He can’t go up there — it’s out of bounds, private land. Area 51. A camera won’t fit up there, let alone one carrying a laser. Was this guy on glue?”

Fortunately, the television personality said doctors successfully removed the stone, before admitting he was “weeping” in agony once the general anaesthetic wore off.
In September, Kay postponed two performances in Nottingham due to another “routine kidney procedure.”
The 52-year-old had been scheduled to appear at Nottingham’s Motorpoint Arena on Sunday and 6 October.
A statement from SJM Concerts, posted by Kay on his social media platforms on Monday, confirmed the decision had been taken “following medical advice.”
The announcement added: “Peter will be taking a period of time to rest and recover.”
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