Welsh funnyman Rhod Gilbert has announced his return to comedy with a huge tour across the UK in 2019 - kicking it off in Wrexham.

After a six-year break from the comedy circuit, Wales’ best known stand-up is getting back on stage with a new show The Book of John.

In recent years, Gilbert has spoken out about personal health issues and his 'crippling shyness'.

Last year the comedian switched regular panel show spots (Have I Got News For You, 8 out of 10 Cats, Mock the Week) for the making of BBC documentary Stand Up to Shyness, talking about his own experiences hope of helping others faced with social anxiety.

As well as this Gilbert has been busy racking up eight series of Rhod Gilbert's Work Experience for BBC Wales.

His huge 52-date 2019 tour kicks off at Wrexham's Aston Hall on Saturday, February 2. He makes a second appearance in North Wales on Wednesday, May 1 with a date at Llandudno's Venue Cymru.

Ahead of the tour, Gilbert said: "Frankly, I've been in no mood to get on stage.

"It'll all be a bit raw, personal and honest - no more lies, no more nonsense.

"There's enough of that in the world right now. Come along and see for yourselves."

Pre-sale tickets will go on sale this Wednesday, and tickets will go on general sale on Friday. You can get them from Ticketmaster here.

For more information on how to get tickets and for a full list of where Rhod will be performing, click here.

Rhod Gilbert tour dates 2019: 

  • Sat 2 Feb – William Aston Hall, Wrexham
  • Sun 3 Feb – Empire Theatre, Liverpool
  • Wed 27 Feb – St George's Hall, Bradford
  • Thu 28 Feb – King George's Hall, Blackburn 
  • Fri 1 Mar – Victoria Theatre, Halifax
  • Sat 2 Mar – Pyramid & Parr Hall, Warrington
  • Sun 3 Mar – Regent Theatre, Stoke
  • Fri 8 Mar – Bonus Arena, Hull
  • Sat 9 March – Empire, Sunderland
  • Sun 24 Mar – The Olympia Theatre, Dublin
  • Wed 27 Mar – The Lowry, Salford
  • Thu 28 Mar – De Montfort Hall, Leicester
  • Fri 29 Mar – Royal Hall, Harrogate 
  • Sat 30 Mar – City Hall, Newcastle
  • Sun 31 Mar – Grand Theatre, Leeds
  • Wed 3 Apr – Manchester Opera House
  • Thu 4 Apr – Royal Concert Hall, Nottingham
  • Fri 5 Apr – Sheffield City Hall
  • Sat 6 Apr – York Barbican
  • Sun 7 Apr – Middlesbrough Town Hall
  • Thu 11 Apr – Eventim Apollo, London
  • Sat 13 Apr – Eventim Apollo, London
  • Thu 25 Apr – Belfast Waterfront
  • Sat 27 Apr – G Live, Guildford
  • Sun 28 Apr – Assembly Hall Theatre, Tunbridge Wells
  • Wed 1 May – Venue Cymru, Llandudno
  • Thu 9 May – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff 
  • Fri 10 May – Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff
  • Sat 18 May – Warwick Arts Centre, Conventry 
  • Sun 19 May – Derby Arena
  • Wed 22 May – Cliffs Pavilion, Southend
  • Thu 23 May – The Anvil, Basingstoke 
  • Fri 24 May – Regent, Ipswich
  • Sat 25 May – New Theatre, Oxford 
  • Tue 28 May – Princess Theatre, Torquay 
  • Wed 29 May – Swan, High Wycombe
  • Fri 14 Jun – Brighton Dome
  • Sat 15 Jun – Bournemouth Pavilion
  • Sun 16 Jun – Guildhall, Portsmouth
  • Wed 19 Jun – Swansea Grand Theatre
  • Thu 20 Jun – Swansea Grand Theatre
  • Sat 22 Jun – Aberdeen Music Hall
  • Sun 23 Jun – King's Theatre, Glasgow 
  • Mon 24 Jun – The Alhambra, Dunfermline
  • Thu 27 Jun – Hippodrome Theatre, Bristol 
  • Fri 28 Jun – Symphony Hall, Birmingham 
  • Sat 29 Jun – The Hexagon, Reading 
  • Sun 30 Jun – Royal & Derngate, Northampton 
  • Fri 19 Jul – Blackpool Opera House
  • Thu 25 Jul – Cheltenham Town Hall
  • Fri 26 Jul – The Dome, Doncaster 
  • Sun 28 Jul – New Victoria Theatre, Woking