Surrealist comedy master and virtuoso musician Bill Bailey is gearing up for a celebration of 20 years of globetrotting performances in Llandudno this Valentine's Day.

The hairy comic will be bringing his signature brand of hilarious storytelling and intelligent tangents to Venue Cymru on two nights.

The performances are part of the Larks in Transit tour and the comedian will share music as well as musings on 20 years as a touring stand-up.

Bailey – familiar from such TV shows as Never Mind the Buzzcocks, QI , Black Books and 8 out of 10 Cats – is returning to North Wales after bringing his Qualmpeddler tour to Rhyl in 2013.

He said: "The event will be a real family affair.

"My wife's is from the area, so I'm sure we'll be having people from around Prestatyn and Rhyl dancing around a coffee table somewhere after the shows."

The wayfaring comedian – who played one of the largest ever comedy gigs to more than 60,000 people at the Sonisphere Rock Festival – sees the Llandudno date as an opportunity to interact with audiences and hone his comedy storytelling.

He reflected: “Comedy is better suited to less cavernous venues. Unless it’s a spectacle, it loses some of its intimacy and the interaction with an audience.

"Comedy isn’t an exact science – some of the show's stories are still raw and works in progress – so part of the pleasure is in refining my craft. There’s a built-in sense of community with me and an audience.

“One thing I can say after all the years performing all over the world, is that this is one of the moot convulsive periods of history."

He added: "I find it depressing that so many forces right now are trying to split Britain into two tribes, so I believe now is the right time to have a conversation with the country.

"I’ve played the same show in Svalbard in Norway and Invercargill in New Zealand and the audiences aren't all that dissimilar, so I believe comedy can be a unifying force.

"I want to make comedy a healing process. If we can share humour, we aren't all that different."

And one of the topics in the musical maestro's crosshairs might well be the state of popular music.

He said: “There’s a gulf and disconnect between the official chart statistics and a more romantic view of music.

"It’s certainly ripe for a gentle ribbing.”

To hear some side-splitting – and unifying – tales from 20 years on the road, catch Larks in Transit with Bill Bailey at Venue Cymru on February 14 and 15 at 8pm.

Tickets are £27.50 and can be booked by calling the box office on 01492 872000 or online at venuecymru.co.uk.