MIKE Harding, the “grandfather of alternative comedy” and BBC Radio 2 folk show presenter, has decided to start touring again after 15 years and will play sold-out shows Burnley on March 12 and Lancaster on March 27.

The tour’s title is Me, A Guitar And Some Daft Stuff, a show in which he draws on more than 40 years of material.

Mike will lead the audience into his comic world of songs, daft stories and monologues that have had audiences collapse with laughter from Sidney to Stockton, Hong Kong to Huddersfield.

Now living in Settle, he has settled on a touring schedule where the furthest north he goes will be South Shields, the furthest south, Derby.

The performer, who released his first album back in 1972 before his single, Rochdale Cowboy, earned national fame, came up with the idea of running the National Folk Awards 13 years ago and he’s presented the event ever since.

His Wednesday evening BBC Radio 2 show is still flying the flag for folk music at a time when other stations are struggling to support the genre.

* Mike Harding plays Burnley Mechanics on Saturday, March 12, tickets sold out; and Lancaster Grand Theatre on Sunday, March 27, tickets sold out.