COMEDIAN and musician Bill Bailey will mark two decades of traveller's tales in his new show, Larks In Transit, visiting York Barbican on the 2018 tour's second night, January 31.

Touring the length and breadth of Britain throughout the late-winter and spring, Bailey will delve into his compendium of stories to reflect on the "general shenanigans of 20 years as a travelling comedian".

Combining musical virtuosity, surreal tangents and trademark intelligence, Bailey will tackle politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness, as well as fashioning a symphony from a ringtone, telling the real story of Old McDonald and re-imagining the Stars and Stripes.

Larks In Transit is Bailey's follow-up to Limboland, a show that played to 230,000 people at 170 sell-out dates in Britain alone, including six weeks in the West End, and dates at Scarborough Spa Theatre in November 2015 and York Barbican last May.

York Press:

Bill Bailey: tackling politics, philosophy and the pursuit of happiness in Larks In Transit

Last summer, Bailey wrote and illustrated the book Bill Bailey’s Remarkable Guide To British Birds, although the larks in his new show's title are not of the feathered variety.

Good-natured Bill has been presented with an Honorary Doctorate of the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia, for his outstanding contribution to the environment on a global scale. He has long been a supporter of International Animal Rescue and he continues to support The Sumatran Orangutan Society, Bowel Cancer UK, Prostate Cancer UK, The Asthma Society and Reprieve.

This summer, in memory of his mother, who he lost to bowel cancer in 2005, Bailey will be walking The Ridgeway Walk in aid of Stand Up To Cancer, a charity close to his heart. Joined by a number of his closest pals, he will trek the 100-mile route from Bedfordshire to Wiltshire over six days at the end of June.

Next year's tour will take in Yorkshire gigs at York Barbican on January 31; Sheffield City Hall, February 9; Hull City Hall, April 25, and Leeds First Direct Arena, June 8. Box office: York, 0844 854 2757 or at yorkbarbican.co.uk; Sheffield, 0114 278 9789; Hull, 01482 300300; Leeds, 0844 248 1585, or at ticketmaster.co.uk and 0844 844 0444. All shows will start at 8pm.