BRITAIN’S Got Talent finalist Steve Royle is Peter Kay’s favourite comedian, Emmerdale star Danny Miller has revealed.
The actor – who plays Aaron Dingle in the ITV soap – took to Twitter to tell his followers that the entertainer from Chorley is one of only two acts that the 47-year-old funny man will pay to watch live.
Steve, 51, was the first contestant to be put through to the 2020 final on Saturday night after he won over the judges and audience with his exceptional talent.
The dad-of-three also spoke out about how the past year has been extremely difficult for him due to the coronavirus pandemic – which left judge Alesha Dixon in tears.
After his success on talent show competition, Danny took to Twitter to share his love and support for his former colleague and also shared an interesting nugget of information to his 322.5k followers.
Alongside one of Steve’s tweets about appearing on Lorraine, Danny retweeted and wrote: “He won’t say it so I will.. Peter Kay would only pay to watch two comedians, forgot who the other was in honesty, the other, was this beautiful man @steveroylecomic – the funniest man I’ve ever worked with.
“Amazing Father, husband and friend. All the luck Buttons.”
Steve has worked alongside Peter in a selection of sitcoms including BBC One’s Car Share, Channel 4’s Phoenix Knights, Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere, and Britain’s Got The Pop Factor.
The actor, writer, comedian, juggler has also supported many comedians on tour including Peter and others including Mick Miller and Roy Walker.
And it looks like both Danny and Peter aren’t Steve’s only fans.
Fellow Emmerdale star and Strictly sensation Kevin Fletcher also gave the funny man some love.
Replying to Danny’s tweet, he joked: “True. What a gent and what a talent. Oh and the other guy was me.”
Another fan added: “I think this should be his time”
While a third said: “Absolutely hilarious. How anyone can make dropping balls over and over again funny is a genius. Such energy and seems like a top family man.”
On Saturday night, Steve opened up about the hardships he’s faced as a comedian during the current pandemic.
The dad-of-three, who helped raise over £5m during his performance of Phoenix Nights Live in 2015, was unable to perform during lockdown, meaning he struggled to provide for his kids.
Steve explained to the judges: “I’m proper welling up there, because it is true.
“I have been working for years and years and especially the past few months have been so hard to not have any work.
“I know my kids are watching somewhere and all I want to do is provide.
I’ve managed to do that in a very tricky career for nearly 30 years and the past few months have been blooming hard to not do that.”
He added: “It means the world to me. I can’t express that anymore than that.”
During his emotional speech, judge Alesha welled up and had to hold back her tears while she and her co-stars listened intently.
Later in the show, Alesha, David Walliams and Ashley Banjo – who is standing in for injured Simon Cowell – all voted to send Steve straight through to the final.
The Lancashire lad impressed the BGT judges with his first audition earlier this year and left the entire panel in stitches over the weekend.
Steve found himself in the judges’ top three and then, at the end of the show, was picked as their favourite.
The remaining seven acts are now up for public vote to secure another spot in the final.
