...travelling by bicycle

The comic, who will be 38 by the time the tour starts at the end of August, will cover 1,500 miles over 32 days, performing at a different venue each night.

His trip works out at an average of almost 50 miles a day, and will take him from Lizard Point – the most southerly point in the British mainland – to Dunnet Head, the most northerly.

The schedule means he will play not only in 2,000-seat theatres but also 30-seat village halls, a barn, the odd hotel function room and a railway dining car. Not all of the dates in his Sit Down, Pedal, Pedal, Stop And Stand Up tour have been confirmed, but the schedule so far is here.

Gorman, who is described as 'not especially fit' is no stranger to bizzarre challenges, having previously travelled the world seeking out his namesakes, and in an adventure based on Googlewhacks, which formed the basis of his last tour in 2004. His new tour is a return to more traditional stand-up following his more documentary-style live shows.

Gorman is not the first comedian to tour in such a way. American comic Tom Snyders has been riding a bicycle to all his stand-up performances throughout the States for the past 20 years, racking up 142,000 miles.

Even in Britain. Danny Hurst made the trip from London to the Edinburgh Festival by bike in 2005, and before he became a comic John Bishop cycled home to the UK from Australia. Both trips formed the basis for Edinburgh shows.

Meanwhile, Gorman's Radio 4 show Genius makes the move to BBC Two this spring.

Published: 23 Feb 2009