FANS of Peter Kay were puzzled by the sight of him apparently sporting a black eye and a cut to his forehead in Manchester city centre.

Was he taking his so-called `Battle of The X Factor' literally in a bid to get to the top of the charts?

Peter was in Castlefield sporting a set of headphones to oversee filming for a follow-up to his spoof Channel 4 show, Britain's Got The Pop Factor.

The Bolton comedian's latest chart hit, The Winner's Song, taken from the programme, entered the charts at number two last weekend.

The power balled beat off stiff competition from the real-life X Factor winner, Leon Jackson.

Peter has already had chart success with the hit Amarillo, with singer Tony Christie, and also with Scottish duo The Proclaimers.