Ricky Gervais is returning to the stand-up comedy stage after a seven-year absence.

The comedian has announced the first few dates for his 2017 world tour Humanity, one which he has labelled as "possibly my last". "Never say never," he admits on his website. "But with that attitude it will make me put every ounce of my soul into it."

Gervais has jokingly described the show as, "me moaning about everything in the world from the most privileged position imaginable", having already performed multiple warm-up gigs, with several more planned before the tour starts in earnest.

Humanity marks the comedian's fifth UK stand-up tour, following Science, Fame, Politics, and Animals; he toured an amalgmation of those four tours in the US as Out of England I & II, filmed for broadcast on HBO.

He's currently been busy promoting his latest cinematic project, David Brent: Life on the Road, a spin-off feature length film based on his character from his iconic sitcom creation The Office; including playing several live shows with the fictional band from the film, David Brent and the Foregone Conclusion.

His gig with the band at the Hammersmith Apollo sold out within 12 minutes, with upcoming shows in Bournemouth on 15 December, and Brighton on 16 December.

David Brent: Life On The Road Music Video - Lady Gypsy

The full released dates so far for the Humanity tour can be found below:

Colston Hall, Bristol - 21 February, 2017

York Barbican, York - 28 February, 2017

Motorpoint Arena Cardiff, Cardiff - 6 March, 2017

O2 Apollo Manchester, Manchester - 13 March, 2017

Liverpool Empire, Empire - 15 March, 2017

Bournemouth International Centre, Bournemouth - 22 March, 2017

Belfast Waterfront, Belfast - 28 March, 2017