That was what this was. Just random anecdotes from this gentleman’s life. I don’t think it was going anywhere. It was just stuff that happened. Much of it hilariously funny, but still, just stuff. It was read by said gentleman in the audiobook version I listened to. It was throughly enjoyable because he obviously would be sitting in his home, sitting down to read his quota for the day and would start rambling about whatever came to mind. Even including rummaging through his desk drawers and telling me, the listener, what he found. Two hugely talented people that made so many of us laugh. I’m telling you, soak up the comedians while they’re still here, these clowns that light up our lives, because when they’re gone, they’re gone. People are always surprised at the void they leave.” ON GAMESHOWS

Kay first announced he was writing a new book in September 2021, to follow on from 2009's Saturday Night Peter, which charted his rise to fame. He said at the time of the writing process: "It's been a real joy recalling the memories. There's over 20 years of stories about filming series like Phoenix Nights and Max & Paddy's Road To Nowhere. Appearing on chat shows like Parkinson, at The Queen's Golden Jubilee and sharing letters from Ronnie Barker. We wrote to each other for years as pen-pals until he passed away."

Peter Kay performed lollipop lady skit on Michael Parkinson's last show

In his award winning TV series' he creates worlds populated by degenerate, bitter, useless, endearing and always recognisable characters which have attracted a huge and loyal following. But the show did not go completely smoothly, partly down to Paddy’s timekeeping. Kay says: “All I can remember is a lot of laughter. Especially from Paddy and me. That’s when he managed to turn up for filming. He was a bugger for being late in the mornings. I still can’t believe it and still can’t face watching any of her series yet. It’s too hard. F***ing cancer. I hope I live to see a cure for it in my lifetime. Then, a few weeks after Victoria Wood, we lost Caroline Aherne, also to cancer. Awful, no other way to put it.

I bought and read this book in about 2008, even though I don't generally go for memoirs or biographies, as such (though I am aware that I've read a couple more; one was a biography on Kevin Costner)... As for my criticism of autobiographies published too early in someone’s career, well The Sound of Laughter only covers Peter Kay’s life up to him breaking through as a stand up comedian. There’s nothing about his successes such as Pheonix Night’s, Car Share or his uproariously funny stand up tours. So there is room for another volume - maybe at the end of his long and illustrious career! What you do get here amongst the jokes and laughter is a story of someone who worked hard to get where he is. Having had several part time jobs along the way. I think for me what sums him up is the fact it took him 5 tests and 6 years to pass his driving test, he never gave up. We all took turns, boys versus girls, and Suggs dished out the points. What’s not to love? Easy TV while drying your hair, before going clubbing on a Saturday night. I was sat in the canteen once chatting to the lovely Keith Chegwin. He was being very candid about his drink problems and he was quite the sharer.

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In many ways he's an old fashioned kind of comedian and the scope and enormity of his fanbase reflects this. He doesn't tell jokes about politics or sex, but rather rejoices in the far funnier areas of life: elderly relatives and answering machines, dads dancing badly at weddings, garlic bread and cheesecake, your mum's HRT... Appearing on chat shows like Parkinson, at the Queen's Golden Jubilee and sharing letters from Ronnie Barker. We wrote to each other for years as pen pals until he passed away."