BOLTON comedian Peter Kay will be helping The Bolton News celebrate our 150th anniversary in 2017.

He will be hosting an exciting ‘Bolton’s Got Talent’ charity event in December to round off the newspaper’s special anniversary year.

The actual date of The Bolton News’ birthday is March 19, but we plan to celebrate throughout the year, with supplements, exhibitions and the ‘Bolton’s Got Talent’ evening.

It will feature the best four unsigned local amateur acts, who will be chosen as part of a Bolton News competition, to be launched soon.

It will be staged at the end of the year at the Premier Suite in the Macron Stadium and all proceeds will go to Bolton Hospice.

Peter said: “I am delighted to be involved in the 150th celebrations of The Bolton News. The BEN, as it was, has been a big part of my life, from delivering it to reading it.

“Bolton’s Got Talent is going to be an incredible event. Not only for the community but also for Bolton Hospice, with all money raised going to the wonderful charity.

“I'm honoured to be working on something so positive in my home town.

“I know Bolton has got some fantastic talent out there and now it is up to the people to come forward and shine. Who knows what it could lead to?”

Keep an eye on The Bolton News for more details of how to enter and how to get tickets.

Ian Savage, who has lived in Bolton all his life, is just the twelfth editor of The Bolton News.

He said: “150 years as the town’s newspaper is a remarkable milestone to reach.

“I am delighted that Peter has agreed to be involved in our celebration evening later this year, which aims to find and showcase some great local amateur talent.

“Peter has helped to put Bolton on the map and is proud of his home town, as am I, and it is lovely that he will be compering the evening.”

Mr Savage, aged 50, has worked in a variety of positions on the newspaper since 1987. He became editor in January, 2008.

The previous 11 editors were: William Brimelow (1871–1913); Frederick L. Tillotson (1913–27); Isaac Edwards (1927–41); Frederick Tillotson (1941–45); Frank Singleton (1945–65); Tom Cooke (1965–79); Leslie Gent (1979–87); Chris Walder (1987–92); Andrew Smith (1992–97); Mark Rossiter (1997–2001); Steve Hughes (2001–08).

Founded by William Frederick Tillotson, The Bolton News was first published in 1867 and was Britain’s first evening community halfpenny newspaper.

It is now part of the Newsquest media group, a subsidiary of the U.S media giant Gannett Inc.

Known until 2006 as the Bolton Evening News, it was based in Mealhouse Lane in the town centre, before moving to Newspaper House in Churchgate in 1987.

It moved to its current home in The Wellsprings, Victoria Square, in 2012.