COMEDIAN Peter Kay has been crowned a gay icon, thanks to a Huddersfield businessman.

Terry George, 39, is the publisher of Britain's widest-circulated gay magazine, Bent.

He went to see Peter - famous for his Channel 4 sitcom Phoenix Nights and John Smith beer adverts, as well as being a stand-up comic - DJing at a club in Manchester's gay village to tell him he had been nominated by Bent as a Gay Icon for 2004.

Other nominees, who will be listed in full in the December issue, include David Beckham, Graham Norton, Colin Farrell and Will Young.

Terry, who has a Huddersfield town centre flat, said: "Peter was a surprise inclusion on the list of gay icons, but after meeting him at the gig in Manchester I can see why he made it.

"He was really camping it up for the crowds and getting them going.

"I was shocked when he only walked in with two CDs, but he had obviously sorted out a tight set list before he came.

"He was very witty and everybody seemed to really enjoy the gig."

Bent was first printed more than eight years ago.