Peter Kay in swear row as Netflix bosses baffled by two-word ad-lib in Wallace and Gromit

Peter Kay starred in the Christmas Wallace and Gromit flick Vengeance Most Fowl as Chief Inspector Mackintosh but an ad-libbed two-word British phrase has baffled Netflix chiefs

Beloved British comedian Peter Kay has left American Netflix chiefs scratching their heads by using a VERY English idiom.

Peter was starring in the Christmas Wallace and Gromit flick Vengeance Most Fowl, in a rare outing after taking something of a step-back from the limelight and his immensely successful career,

In what his his first Television role in four years, the Bolton comic starred as Chief Inspector Mackintosh – but Netflix bosses were worried he was being offensive and using a swear word when he uttered one particular phrase.

The idiom in question was “flippin’ Nora” – a phrase used as a cry of disbelief or dismay, most notably in the North of England.

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 12: Comedian Peter Kay performs live on stage during the Heroes Concert at Twickenham Stadium, in aid of the charity Help For Heroes, on September 12, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Jim Dyson/Getty Images)
Peter Kay’s voice was back on our screens in Wallace and Gromit ( 
Image:
Getty Images)

Chief Inspector Mackintosh exclaims the phrase as the infamous villain Feathers McGraw – the dastardly clever criminal penguin – makes his escape.

And the genius creator behind the hit show revealed that Peter, 51, left Netflix bosses baffled with the phrase – which he in fact had ad-libbed himself, as an improvisation away from the script.

Nick Park, from animators Aardman, told The Sun: “Peter ad-libs quite a lot. At one point he’s astonished at something and shouts ‘Flippin Nora’.”

BBC UNVEILS FIRST TEASER FOR WALLACE & GROMIT’S LONG AWAITED RETURN The BBC have released the first teaser trailer for the upcoming Wallace & Gromit film, Vengeance Most Fowl, which will be coming to BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl will be a full length feature film and will premiere this Christmas on BBC One and BBC iPlayer. Outside of the UK, the film will be available globally on Netflix this winter. Previously released imagery can all be found on BBC Pictures – www.bbcpictures.co.uk The new trailer gives fans an exciting glimpse into Wallace and Gromit’s latest adventure. After a recent crime wave of stolen garden goods from across the region, Wallace and his pre-programmed smart gnome, Norbot, are the main suspects. While Wallace proclaims his innocence, it’s up to Gromit once again to battle sinister forces, or Wallace will never invent again! But who could possibly be behind such evil actions?! Rightfully behind bars for all this time, Feathers McGraw is back with vengeance. Feathers McGraw was last seen in 1993’s BAFTA and Academy Award winning short The Wrong Trousers. As previously announced, the voice cast will feature Ben Whitehead as Wallace, the eccentric, cheese-loving inventor from the North of England who lives with his best friend and loyal pooch, Gromit. Peter Kay returns as Chief Inspector Macintosh alongside Lauren Patel (Everybody’s Talking About Jamie, Lloyd of the Flies). The new film also features cameos from Diane Morgan (Afterlife, Motherland), Adjoa Andoh (Bridgerton, Invictus), Muzz Khan (Brassic, Galavant) and Lenny Henry (Three Little Birds, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power) with further details of their roles to be revealed soon. Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (1x79’) will premiere on BBC iPlayer and BBC One this Christmas and, outside of the UK, will be available globally on Netflix on 3rd January 2025. It is directed by Nick Park (creator of Wallace & Gromit and Shaun the Sheep) and Merlin Crossingham (Creative Director, Wallace & Gromit and Animation Director, Early Man) with the story written by Nick Park and Mark Burton (Madagascar, Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit, Shaun the Sheep Movie). The screenplay is by Mark Burton and the film is produced by Richard Beek. Wallace and Gromit’s previous adventures can be enjoyed on BBC iPlayer
Nine million people in Britain watched the Wallace & Gromit film, Vengeance Most Fowl ( 
Image:
BBC)
Meanwhile creative director Merlin Crossingham backed up is boss’s explanation, and said the Aardman team had to scramble to reassure the American Netflix chiefs that the phrase was “innocent”.

Merlin said: “[We had to explain to them that] it’s not rude, it’s not an expletive, it’s an innocent turn of phrase’.”

The brand-new Wallace and Gromit film will be streamed across the world on Netflix from next week, after it drew an incredible audience of nine million on BBC 1 on Christmas Day.

Feathers McGraw in the film
Feathers McGraw made his escape ( 
Image:
BBC)
Meanwhile, fans of the Farnworth funnyman will recall this is not the first time Peter has left audiences in the United States a little bit perplexed.

He felt the need to say sorry to an audience in Los Angeles in 2009, after he told jokes about celebs from the UK and car-boot sales.

He told the crowd: “I’m sorry if you found that hard to understand but there was comedy in there somewhere.”

Gromit the dog on the show
Gromit the dog made a return to UK screens ( 
Image:
BBC)Don’t Miss

Peter Kay returned as Chief Inspector Mackintosh, who had been promoted from a police constable since his appearance in The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

He is a beloved comedian who famously created That Peter Kay Thing, Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights, Max and Paddy’s Road to Nowhere and Car Share.

He was last seen on TV in 2020’s Car Share but in November announced his comedy touring comeback – which will be his first set of live gigs in 12 years.