Fans have called for Peter Kay to return to screens and lift the nation’s spirits, after the BBC aired a special programme charting his best comedy moments.

Peter Kay’s Comedy Shuffle, on BBC One, featured clips from Who Wants To Be A Millionaire and The One Show.

It aired at the end of the UK’s first working week under lockdown, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The 46-year-old comic, from Bolton, has kept a low profile in recent months, and some fans said his exploits were needed now more than ever.

One viewer said on Twitter: “Tell you what mind, when all this is over we need Peter Kay to come back and cheer the nation up.”

Another described the show as “absolutely brilliant”.

They added: “We need more of your fabulousness during this lockdown. Good to see your lovely face back again…..hope all is now well with you and yours.”

A third tweeted: “Just been watching Peter Kay on BBC, your country needs you now more than ever Peter.”

Others urged the BBC to broadcast Kay’s best bits on a regular basis.

“I think we need Peter Kay on every night,” they said.

Another added: “In these hard times we all need Peter Kay in our lives!”

And one fan said the stand-up was “guaranteed to make us all feel a bit better for a little while”.