Peter Kay breaks his silence after kicking ‘garlic bread’ hecklers out of gig and branding one a ‘Lisa Riley lookalike’

PETER Kay has broken his silence after he booted audience members out of his hit comedy tour following a series of interruptions.

The Phoenix Nights star, 51, got the hecklers ejected from his Better Late Than Never... Again! show in Manchester.

The Bolton-born comic made an unexpected comparison to actress Lisa Riley in one remark to a heckler.

Peter was then criticised for "nasty and bitter" conduct towards the gig-goers.

He spoke out on the matter earlier today in a statement to ITV show Good Morning Britain: "I didn't realise it was an insult.

"She did look remarkably like Lisa Riley, I didn't realise that was an insult."

GMB host Ed Balls defended Peter, and told viewers: "He felt he had no option but to remove the hecklers as they were spoiling the show".

Ed continued to read his statement which said: "There comes a point when dealing with repeated hecklers simply isn't enough.

"It's not something you ever want to do but it becomes a point when it's no longer fair to everyone around."

Peter was quick to kick out one ticket-holder who repeatedly shouted out his signature catchphrase "garlic bread".

Warehouse work Philip Peters now wants a refund after his daughter, 17, forked out £155 on his ticket for Christmas.

He told : "It was me who shouted out 'garlic bread'.

"I was there with my son and they dragged us out like rag dolls and I am now covered in bruises.

"A lot of people just stood up and walked out when they saw how we were dragged out."

The stand-up previously said he's "too embarrassed" to buy garlic bread at the supermarket - after the snack became the punchline to one of his best-loved jokes.

After the male attendee repeated the phrase numerous times the star called on the AO Arena staff to intervene in a move which some branded "nasty and bitter".

Yet this wasn't the end of the chaos, as one female audience member took advantage of the pause in proceedings to shout "we love you Peter Kay".

Clearly at the end of his tether with the interruptions, the Max And Paddy star also asked for her to be escorted out.

Yet he couldn't resist a distasteful dig as she made her way through the aisles, with audience members claiming he said: "Have a drink have we?

"Go on, off you go Lisa Riley."

He was referring to the Emmerdale actress, who plays Mandy Dingle, who has spoken openly about her battle with booze.

She is now nine years sober after admitting to drinking two bottles of wine a night - with the screen star previously confessing she "drowned my feelings in alcohol"; following her mum's death.