DAVE Spikey will celebrate the 30th anniversary of his comedy career in 2017 with a 19-date tour stopping at The Mart Theatre in Skipton on Thursday, April 13.

Juggling On A Motorbike, which started in March and runs through to December, will see the Lancashire-based comic look back on his life and journey from working class lad to chief biomedical scientist to much-loved comedy performer and writer who has been involved in Phoenix Nights, Eight Out of Ten Cats, Bullseye, Dead Man Weds, Magnolia, The Royal Variety Show and Parkinson.

Dave had been working in the NHS for 19 years as a biomedical scientist when in 1987 someone told him, “You’re really funny, you should be a comedian”, and for some reason, he took them seriously.

Only a few short months later he was crowned the winner of the national talent show Stairway to the Stars.

Larry Grayson, one of the judges, told him that it was a close run thing on the night but what clinched the award for Dave was his routine about a juggler on a motorbike.

Fast forward 13 years to October 13, 2000 - the day Dave switched off his microscope for the last time in the Haematology Laboratory.

The following Monday he found himself sitting on a rain-swept local car park dressed as a giant berry.

Dave often reflects that maybe none of this would have happened and he might still be looking down his microscope today if it had not been for his juggler on a motorbike routine.

When asked what audiences of the Skipton show could expect, Dave said: "Something old, something new, nothing borrowed, nothing blue as I tell the story of my 30-year journey in comedy from my first gig in 1987 to this current show in 2017."

Dave also said the show will explore his formative years before he made the "massive jump" from biomedical science to professional comedian.

Tickets for the 7.30pm Skipton show cost £15 and are available by ringing the box office on 01756 709666 on weekdays between 10am and 2pm or visiting themarttheatre.org.uk