COMEDIAN Peter Kay wrote the part of club-owner Brian Potter in his cult comedy Phoenix Nights for controversial comedian Bernard Manning.

Peter revealed he thought Bernard, who died in 2007, would have been “perfect casting” for the role but it didn’t happen due to Bernard’s poor health. Peter went on to play the part himself in the award-winning comedy.

The comedian was talking to his Phoenix Nights colleague Ted Robbins on Ted’s BBC Radio Manchester show. Peter also revealed his admiration for newly knighted Sir Ken Dodd.

Peter was interviewed as part of a regular ‘Ted Talks’ feature on BBC Radio Manchester where Ted Robbins, who played Den Perry in Phoenix Nights, will interview a celebrity friend every Friday.

Peter told Ted Robbins how the character of Brian Potter in Phoenix Nights had originally been written for Bernard Manning.

He told BBC Radio Manchester: “Bernard Manning is controversial but he had incredible timing. I wrote the character of Brian Potter in Phoenix Nights for him to play but unfortunately he was too poorly to do it. I thought it would have been perfect casting but it didn’t happen.”

Peter is looking forward to the new series of the BBC comedy series Car Share but he said he was worried whether people would be able to relate to the programme. Talking about his on screen relationship with Sian Gibson in the BBC One comedy series Car Share, Peter said: “Sian is a very funny beautiful person and I am very proud of her being nominated for a BAFTA. I always knew we could capture an element of our chemistry and I thought people would like it. I did worry whether people would relate to two people just talking in a car. But it went down better than I ever dreamed it would.

“The new series [of Car Share] starts in April. I am very happy with it, hopefully people will enjoy it, it’s all very normal and down to earth humour.”

Ted and Peter went on to chat about Ken Dodd’s recent knighthood and shared their favourite memories of the popular Knotty Ash comedian.

Peter said: “I’ve watched him a few times, the last time I saw him was in Bolton at the Albert Hall, I had a good 25 minute sleep in the middle and when I woke up he was still on! He came on at 8pm and went off at twenty to one. I have a lot of respect for him, when he goes that will be it, there will be no-one else like him.”

Peter also talked about his other comedy favourites including Cannon and Ball: “I am fascinated by real people who are really funny. I watched Cannon and Ball the other week and they are pin sharp and on the ball. I took my children to see them and they were crying laughing, it’s timeless, they are still absolutely hilarious. Being a comedian is probably the only job apart from undertaking that isn’t age restricted!

“It’s funny how comedy is. You look at people like French & Saunders, when they started out they were very alternative. A lot of those alternative comedians have ended up being mainstream. They know that longevity is about being mainstream.”