Damian's 120-night comedy tour for charity

Damian, who is performing at The King’s Arms in the Tring Triangle, isn’t using any money or public transport on his way to Edinburgh.

He is also performing at the Three Horseshoes in Winkwell tomorrow night (May 12).

So he’s hoping to be given shelter, food and maybe a few lifts on the way – in return he’ll tell jokes to anyone anywhere, from the Nags Head to Granny’s front room, in return for the basic necessities so many people have to do without every day.

The initial fundraising target was £7,000 but in the first month of the tour alone, he’s already raised over £5,000.

Damian has support from 60 venues already, but with half his slots to be confirmed, he’s likely to end up performing on the street and mowing lawns in exchange for the use of a washing machine or somewhere to lay his sleeping bag.

He said: “It’s so important we raise money and awareness for Shelter, and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to do this.

“I am as worried as I am excited about the Knock Knock tour, but my experience will obviously be no more than a small insight into what homeless people go through every day of their lives.

“Gigs are mostly free entry but the whole point is to raise money for Shelter, so there will be a collection at the end of each gig.

“Out of 120 gigs, lots of which don’t normally host comedy, I’m sure there will be some tough nights.

“I keep having these recurring visions of me dying onstage in a village in the middle of nowhere, trying and failing to sleep in a tent, worried that the farmer who owns the field I’m in will appear with a shotgun, then having to lug all my stuff 14 miles to the next gig like an unfunny wandering minstrel.”

Julie Bolt, Shelter’s head of community and events, said: “We’re hugely thankful to Damian for undertaking such an extraordinary challenge to raise funds for Shelter.

“All of the money he raises will go directly towards making sure no one has to fight bad housing or homelessness on their own.

“We wish him the best of luck on the tour and encourage everyone to go along if they get the opportunity.”

Damian will hold at least one gig every day, with travel between gigs of up 12 miles.

Around 90 per cent of the venues will be in country villages, with a few exceptions.

From July 21 there’s a short break till August 4 while Damian performs the Knock Knock show as part of the free fringe in Edinburgh, with all donations from that also going to Shelter.

You can also support Damian by following his progress on his website (www.damiankingsley.co.uk) and on Twitter @DamianKingsley or #TwoKnockTour.