FOR want of a better title, Lee Hurst is calling this year's road travels Tour 2000. "It's been going on since February, so I don't know if it refers to the year, the number of gigs, or how I'll be feeling by the end of the tour," says the London dome.

The bald-headed Cockney comic, for whom They Think It's All Over was indeed all over two years ago, is now dividing his time between running his Backyard Comedy Club in Bethnal Green, East London; performing off-the-cuff each Tuesday at the Comedy Store's Cutting Edge night, and touring all over Britain.

Only last month he was in Harrogate, and he returns to North Yorkshire next Wednesday for a 7.45pm show at the Grand Opera House, York.

"This year, I've been spreading out the dates, and it's been a lot better doing it this way. It's nowhere near as tiring," he says. "Before, at this time of year I'd be about to start a 40 or 50-date tour; now, because I'm doing shows all year, there are only 28 in the same period. That's much more manageable."

It needs to be, too, as Lee has been working flat out on opening a second bar at his Backyard club. Last Thursday, for example, he spent the day at the club, then did a show at Croydon and came back to the Backyard to work again from 1am to 7am.

"By the end of the year I'll have the club how I want it," says Lee, who will then be able to restrict himself to weekend compering duties.

All this added work has not been detrimental to his touring show. Hurst prides himself on each tour always featuring entirely new material.

"And since the start of the tour there's been a 50 per cent change in the material as well. The show's getting longer, and I've found that by doing shows all year, it's generated more material than if you just do the show every night over a short period when you can get stuck in a rut."

Hurst was an essential, irreverent part of They Think It's All Over for five series, yet he has no regrets about leaving the BBC sports quiz, nor his present absence from the box. "There's nothing on TV at the moment that gives me the urge to go back on there. TV holds nothing for me right now; it's so dull and dumbed down, I hardly ever watch it - just some American comedies, and videos, that's all."

Hurst, who will be 38 next month, does have one target in mind. "I saw an advert for the London Marathon, and I've thought about doing it, but to make it worthwhile I'd have to do it in around three and a half hours," says Lee, who is regularly to be spotted cycling between home and comedy club.

"I've been watching the Olympics, so I've got a bit of an itch for running, and coming up 38, two years away from 40, I thought maybe this is the time for the Marathon."

Lee Hurst, the marathon tour man, could soon become Lee Hurst, marathon runner.

Lee Hurst, Tour 2000, Grand Opera House, York, October 4, 7.45pm. Tickets: £12; ring 01904 671818.