COMIC CAPER; Steve's 32,000 miles.. for a 45 minute gig.

Byline: STEPHEN WHITE

COMEDIAN Steve Womack took a fortnight and travelled 32,000 miles to play one gig after flying to the wrong destination then missing the boat.

The 33-year-old was booked to entertain holidaymakers on the QE2 as it sailed from Hawaii to Tahiti.

He set out in good time from his home in Barnby Dun, South Yorks, to get to Manchester airport for a flight to Heathrow.

There he boarded a plane to Los Angeles. But then it all started going wrong. He caught another flight for Hawaii but discovered he was heading to the wrong island.

He landed on Maui instead of Kailua-Kona where the ship was due to drop anchor. When he eventually made it to Kailua-Kona, the sea was so rough, the QE2 could not dock.

Instead she sailed off leaving Steve behind. Cruise bosses told him to sit tight and he waited in a luxury hotel for four days before they flew him back to Los Angeles then out to Tahiti to meet the cruise.

Singer and comic Steve eventually made it on stage as the liner sailed towards New Zealand.

Then it was an exhausting trip back home via Hong Kong.

Steve said yesterday: "I have performed in Europe in places for just one night and once went to Kazakhstan for two but never anything like this. I went round the world one and a half times.

"It was worth it though. The audience liked me.

QE2 owners Cunard said: "We have good entertainment and that requires flying people to wherever necessary."

CAPTION(S):

LONG RUN: Steve and, below, QE2