It would be very hard to make a sheep laugh. When they are not chewing grass or looking profoundly gormless, they are generally asleep. But, for Jasper Carrott, acclaimed comedian and folk singer, Keith Donnelly's stand-up routine will melt even the most vacant Swaledale's maudlin gaze.

Comic, coloratura storyteller, folk musician and children's entertainer - it is nearly impossible to restrict a list of the globe-trotting Geordie's skills to a few catch-all performing labels. Nor, if the details of his life's eclectic biography are any guide, would he want to be pigeonholed.

For the purposes of Settle Stories' festival in April, Keith Donnelly, along with renowned actress and singer Ursula Holden-Gill, will be donning his well-worn hat of family entertainer.

In a compendium of exceptionally 'stupid songs and some very sensible stories' entitled 'The Queen and the Jester', Keith will be doing what he does best - acting the goat in the apt guise of a court clown.

And making people chortle...probably more loudly than intended.

Witness the comedic minimalism in a recent interview. We would expect nothing less !

What do you consider to be your greatest achievement ?

My creativity 

What inspires your creativity ?

Striving towards my greatest achievement 

Give one piece of advice to your younger self

Get older

Who is your artistic idol and why ?

That would probably be me (because of my modesty)

What is your key goal with your artistic practice ?

Happiness 

What are the stakes ? What happens if you fail ?

Fail?

If you could be any literary character, who would you be and why ?

The Monkey (with feathers on his wings) from 'I Wish I Was A Monkey'

What would your epitaph say ?

Right now? Probably - 'Hang on he's not dead yet!'

'The Queen and the Jester' - Settle Victoria Hall, Saturday 7th April at 2pm.
Tel: 05603 845693
settlestories.org.uk