Peter Kay has claimed that Netflix approached him to ask for Phoenix Nights to be added to their catalogue – but the comedian turned them down.
The Bolton comedian and TV writer, 52, co-created and starred in the 2000s comedy, set at the fictional titular labour club in his hometown.
Phoenix Nights was a beloved series for the two years it was on TV, between 2001 and 2002, and has retained a strong cult following in the years since.
However, elements of the show reflect sensibilities of the early 2000s, and Peter has claimed that Netflix wanted to warn people of this before each episode.
For that reason, he says, he decided not to give the series’ 12 episodes over to the streaming giant, preferring to keep things ‘not politically correct’.
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He told Capital Breakfast: ‘Netflix got in touch with me last year because they wanted to put Phoenix Nights on [the platform]. They rang me up – anyway, they sent me a load of paperwork.’
Speaking to host Sian Welby, he added: ‘Basically, it’s not very politically correct now. This was made in a [different] time, do you know what I mean?’
Considering Netflix’s offer to put a trigger warning at the start of each episode, explaining that Phoenix Nights was made almost 25 years ago, Peter said: ‘I’m not keen on that, I don’t really want a warning before it.’
Despite apparently being sent a complimentary air fryer by Netflix (which, he added, he was ‘grateful’ for) the comedian said he decided to ‘leave it’.
While Phoenix Nights wasn’t known for controversial or risqué humour, the show did contain a considerable amount of mature content and was given a 15 certificate upon its DVD release.
A season two storyline involving two Chinese immigrants working in the club’s kitchen is one example cited by fans that may be cut from a 2020s revamp.
Some fans have speculated over the years that key cast members from the show referred to the season two storyline as ‘borderline racist’ at the time of its broadcast.
The two men ‘can’t speak a word of the Queen’s English’ (according to Peter’s character Brian Potter), and are shown to have a poor understanding of basic English social customs at various points.
Elsewhere in the interview, Peter teased the possibility of a Phoenix Nights film, saying that, while a script was being written, he was ‘waiting for the de-ageing process to come into fruition’ before filming began.
‘The storyline involves a lot of flashbacks to the past,’ he added. ‘I don’t want to be using really bad makeup to make people look young. When the tour is finished, I’ve been thinking about it.’
As of 2025, Phoenix Nights isn’t available to stream anywhere, which would have made its inclusion in Netflix’s catalogue a godsend for deprived comedy fans.
Metro has contacted Netflix for comment.
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