COMEDY fans will help energetic funny man Lee Evans whip his latest show into shape during a two-day stint at the Grand Opera House.

Evans, a former boxer turned award-winning comic and actor, is staging two warm-up shows on Monday and Tuesday in York, before near sell-out crowds.

He will be performing with notes as he prepares himself for a gruelling 66-date UK tour, starting in August.

Such is the appetite for Evans’ brand of physical comedy that he sold £7 million pounds worth of seats on the first day tickets for his new Roadrunner tour went on sale.

Dubbed the king of physical comedy, Evans has been likened to Norman Wisdom, and often has to take showers during breaks on stage because he sweats so much.

He blames the sweating on anxiety, claiming hitting the stage leaves him “as nervous as a nun awaiting her pregnancy test results”.

Evans has been a hit in Hollywood too, starring in movies such as There’s Something About Mary, The Fifth Element, Mouse Hunt and Funny Bones.

He’s certainly come a long way since his first gig in a talent show in a Brighton pub. He gave a knock-out performance – being knocked out by a fire extinguisher thrown from the audience.

Hopefully, no such fate awaits him when he takes to York stage next week, accompanied by his trusty white towel and a clutch of new gags.

Few tickets left: £28 from box office on 0844 871 3024 or book online at grandoperahouseyork.org.uk