Shock artist to crawl from Southwark to Canterbury

McGowan's latest project focuses on those who spend the Christmas and New Year season alone. He hopes to arrive in Canterbury 14 days after he leaves Southwark

He has a rose clenched between his teeth, 18 boxes of chocolates tied to his body and a sign reading 'Could You Love Me?' on his back.

Mark McGowan is perhaps best known for his 2003 stunt, pushing a monkey nut along the road for 7 miles with his nose from Goldsmiths College to 10 Downing Street in a protest against tuition fees.

In 2002 McGowan rolled all the way from the Elephant and Castle to Bethnal Green singing We Wish You a Merry Christmas.

The site of the Tabard Inn, where Chaucer's Canterbury Tales begins, is now occupied by Copyprints Business Centre. Since 2003 the site has been marked by a blue plaque.