Staplehurst couple fighting cancer to receive VIP treatment at comedian Peter Kay’s The 02 performance following booking error

Staplehurst couple fighting cancer to receive VIP treatment at comedian Peter Kay’s The 02 performance following booking error

News Hour

A couple fighting incurable cancer will receive the VIP treatment at The 02 this weekend after fearing their chance to see Peter Kay live had been scuppered due to a booking error.

George Fillery, from Staplehurst, tried booking tickets for him and his wife, Frances, to see the comedy superstar at the venue in Greenwich this June as part of the showman’s latest tour.

George and Frances Fillery will now be O2 guests at Peter Kay's show on June 3.
George and Frances Fillery will now be O2 guests at Peter Kay’s show on June 3.

However after buying their seats, the Peter Kay fan realised he had accidentally booked it for June 2024.

As his wife Frances suffers from stage four incurable Ovarian cancer the couple weren’t sure if they would have the time to wait until next year and so George contacted O2 on social media to ask for a refund.

But instead of fulfilling his request, as a measure of good will the company instead requested the couple attend the show as O2’s guests, offering premium seats, a VIP box suite and easy access to amenities, food and drink.

On top of that the couple also received a £50 voucher which can be spent on garlic bread or any other food of their choosing – and overnight accommodation at a nearby hotel in Canary Wharf at the end of the night.

George said: “We are absolutely overwhelmed by O2’s response to our situation. We have been made to feel like celebrities and it has given Frances such a lift.

The O2 Arena in London. Picture: Google Street View
The O2 Arena in London. Picture: Google Street View

“I have to say I wasn’t expecting this when I first contacted O2 about the booking error.

“We can’t thank them enough and now we can’t wait to see Peter Kay at The O2 on Saturday evening.”

Ulrik Bengtsson, Chief operating officer at Virgin Media O2, said: “As soon as George told us what had happened with his ticket booking, we knew we had to do everything we could to get him and Frances at The O2 this year, when they initially wanted to see Peter Kay.

“It is our pleasure to host George and Frances as our guests at The O2 on Saturday, and we hope they have a great day out and enjoy the show.”

Peter Kay’s comeback tour dubbed ‘Better Late Than Never’ is his first since 2011.

The comic from Bolton did have dates for a new tour set in 2018 but was forced to cancel due “unforeseen family circumstances”.

The new tour is already in full swing having kicked off in Manchester in December.

The show is a first of its kind as he will be the first artist to hold a monthly residency at The O2 in London, performing a show at the venue every month from December 2022 through to April 2025.

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