A HOTEL owner hopes his struggling business will rise like a Phoenix — after he was compared to one of Peter Kay's best loved comedy characters.

Viewers of Channel 5 show The Hotel Inspector commented that Keith Monaghan was a dead ringer for Brian Potter, the wheelchair bound owner of the Phoenix Club in Peter's sitcom Phoenix Nights.

After Mr Monaghan's two-star Bulstone Hotel at Branscombe, in East Devon, appeared on the show, viewers including Peter's co-star Paddy McGuinness took to Twitter to comment on the likeness.

He tweeted: "So now you know why there's no more Phoenix Nights. Brian Potter is on tonight's #hotelinspector @channel5_tv"

Mr Monaghan's hotel did not receive the thumbs up from presenter Alex Polizzi but he hopes Peter will visit the premises, to give it a boost.

The 59-year-old said: "I had heard of Peter Kay before the show but I didn't appreciate who he was and all of the different shows he has been in.

"I saw him in Car Share, which I liked, but I hadn't seen Phoenix Nights before. I have watched it since, it was OK.

"I know a lot of his shows are satires, so he could come down and even do a show. It could be Brian Potter and his brother."

Mr Monaghan is originally from Sheffield, and has run the hotel with his wife Judith for the past 20 years.

Viewers commented that as well as his physical appearance, the retired housing officer also sounded like Brian Potter with his mannerisms and the way he talked.

The transformation was complete when Mr Monaghan became wheelchair bound after breaking his leg.

He said: "It would be great if Peter would come down and have his picture took with me, it would give us a good boost."

Viewers who took to Twitter to comment on the likeness included Daily Mirror TV critic, Ian Hyland, who said: "Brian Potter appears to be walking again and running a country hotel. It's fabulous."

Karen Danczuk, ex-wife of Labour MP Simon Danczuk, tweeted: "Watching #hotelinspector on Ch5+1 and it's like watching Brian Potter off @peterkay_co_uk Phoenix Nights. Classic."