PAUL Merton's Impro Chums will return to the road next year to play some of their favourite places, among them the Grand Opera House in York on June 1.

As ever, Have I Got News For You team captain Merton will be joined by Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch, Suki Webster and Mike McShane, plus accompanist Kirsty Newton, for a night of improvised comedy at 8pm.

"The collective experience of on-the-spot ad-libbing embodied in the Impro Chums is enough to stun an elephant," says the tour publicity.

Merton is a founder member of The Comedy Store Players and still appears at the Comedy Store in London most Sundays, as well as being a resident guest on BBC Radio 4’s Just A Minute. He has presented such BBC shows as Paul Merton Looks At Alfred Hitchcock and Paul Merton’s Birth Of Hollywood, along with Paul Merton’s Adventures for Channel Five, wherein he travelled around India, China and Europe, and Paul Merton’s Secret Stations for Channel 4. His autobiography, Only When I Laugh, was published in 2014.

Tickets are on sale at £25 on 0844 871 3024 or at atgtickets.com/york. Next year's tour also will visit Leeds City Varieties on June 2 at 8pm; box office,

0113 243 0808 or at cityvarieties.co.uk.