MOST people know Noel Fielding best as his eccentric zoo-keeper alter ego, Vince Noir, from The Mighty Boosh.

But in the years since the smash hit series, Noel has continued to bring his distinctive surreal style of comedy to the stage and screen.

Now he is on the road with a massive UK tour, An Evening with Noel Fielding, which visits Southampton Mayflower on Sunday, with further South Coast dates at the BIC on November 28 and Portsmouth Guildhall on December 2.

His latest TV programme, Noel Fielding’s Luxury Comedy, was set in a café on the side of a Hawaiian volcano.

The eating establishment was staffed by Andy Warhol and a chocolate finger who was also a PE teacher, as well as Noel himself, who played the straight guy to his weird and wonderful companions.

This series got its best viewing figures to date, proving yet again that the British love bizarre humour.

“It was just like that with the Boosh,” says Fielding.

“It was such a weird show, Julian [Barratt, his writing partner and co-star] and I thought it was pretty mental how big it had got, considering we didn’t compromise on anything. It was pretty amazing!"

A decade after The Mighty Boosh first aired on BBC Three, Fielding has established himself as a central figure in the UK comedy scene, having already done gigs at Wembley Arena and the O2.

“Last time we were on a massive tour, we went out in Marilyn Manson’s tour bus!” Noel says. “It became like we were in Pink Floyd or something…”

Once the Boosh reached its peak of fan mania, Julian Barratt wanted to take a step back out of the limelight.

“It got to the stage where everyone wants a picture of you, and I don’t think Julian was comfortable with that whole ‘celebrity’ thing,” explains Fielding.

He, on the other hand, threw himself into the London party scene, often spotted out and about in Camden with his showbiz pals.

“I’m not very good if I don’t work; I’m a bit of a workaholic and I start going out partying, doing stupid things – I get bored very easily so I have to keep stimulating my mind,” says Fielding.

Now that his TV show has picked up steam, Fielding has focused his creative efforts into making An Evening with Noel Fielding into a spectacular tour.

“There’s live animation, live music, brand new stand up; it’s a really complicated and expensive show – I always want to put on a show that costs as much to put on as it takes in tickets!” he laughs.

“I just want people to come away thinking ‘wow, I really enjoyed that’,” he says.