Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert has announced his first tour following his cancer battle, promising to get the "comedy juice flowing" - and there are seven North East dates. 

Rhod's new tour - entitled Rhod Gilbert and the Giant Grapefruit - will "navigate the dark bits and turn life's giant grapefruits into something more approaching lemonade". 

Tickets are set to go on sale tomorrow (Wednesday, September 27),  and fans will be able to buy them through Rhod's own website, or through Ticketmaster. 

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Here are the seven North East and North Yorkshire dates for Rhod Gilbert's upcoming tour: 

  • York - The Barbican. Thursday, June 20, 2024. 
  • Sunderland - The Sunderland Empire. Friday, June 21, 2024. 
  • Newcastle - O2 City Hall. Saturday, June 22, 2024. 
  • Stockton-on-Tees - Stockton Globe.  Friday, November 8. 2024. 
  • Harrogate - Royal Hall. Wednesday, October 9, 2025.
  • Scarborough - Spa Theatre. Thursday, October 10, 2025.
  • Middlesbrough - Town Hall. Friday, October 11, 2025. 

Launching the tour, the curmudgeonly Welsh comedian said: “After the year I’ve had it’s wonderful to be alive and going back on the road. I can’t wait to get back on stage and I’m ready to get way too personal about life’s recent ups and downs.

"When life gives you lemons, you have to squeeze them ‘til the comedy juice flows, so prepare for some dark but funny s***.”

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His agents say: "Rhod's last tour, The Book of John, kicked off in 2019 and ran until 2023 (with extra dates added due to overwhelming demand, COVID delays, and further postponements due to Rhod's cancer diagnosis).

"A highly personal and honest show, Rhod performed The Book of John to over 200,000 people, amassing widespread rave reviews, with critics hailing it as his best live show to date.

"This new live show sees Rhod back on stage doing what he does best. Candid, hilarious and uplifting; it's a show about navigating the dark bits and turning life's giant grapefruits into something approaching lemonade."