After making a car-crash appearance on one of the country's most watched chat shows, down and out American comedian Johnny Lazar (Tim Guinee) is given one last chance of redemption by his agent Morris Feldmann (Lou Hirsch), who secures him a twelve-week tour of working men's clubs and universities in the UK under the watchful eye of major talent scout Brian Duffield (Danny Webb). But on his first night in the UK, Johnny is witness to a gangland hit in Picadilly Circus. Johnny initially tries to avoid becoming embroiled in the manhunt for the killer, but when the police issue an E-fit matching his description, his conscience begins to get the better of him. And when one of his fellow comedians, Nigel Perfect (Christopher Fulford) is murdered in a case of mistaken identity, Johnny decides to do the right thing by handing himself into the police. Unfortunately for them, Johnny's evidence puts the case against their prime suspect, Delroy Smith (Lennie James) in severe jeapordy.
Fratelli (Stephen Greif) orders Moreno (Terry O'Neill) to step up the campaign to silence Johnny. Delroy offers to chauffeur Johnny during a newly booked sixteen-night tour of the UK in his brand new £12,000 Nissan. But events take a frightening turn when Moreno tails Johnny from a gig at Hotspots and tries to run him off the road. Only some skilled driving from Haggis (Alex Norton) manages to save the day, and he leaps to the rescue once again by offering to loan Johnny and Delroy a hearse for them to drive up to Scotland for the first night of the impending tour. Whilst in Scotland, the events of Johnny's childhood begin to overwhelm him, much to the point that he suffers somewhat of a breakdown after spending the night with Nula (Michelle Fairley). Delroy, meanwhile, has arranged for Haggis to ship a £15,000 Harley up from London to Scotland to surprise Johnny after he comes off stage. Johnny is delighted, unaware that Moreno has tracked the shipment and is hot on his tail.