A CELEBRATED comedian is making his musical theatre debut when he joins the cast of The Producers in Southampton as a short-fused pigeon fancier.

Mel Brooks’s smash hit musical based on the film of the same name comes to The Mayflower Theatre next spring, and now hairy Geordie comic Ross Noble will be joining the show.

After a string of flops, Broadway producer Max Bialystock recruits downtrodden accountant Leo Bloom (fellow comedian Jason Manford) to help him pull off Broadway’s greatest scam – the worst musical of all time.

Ross, who has won many awards for his surreal comedy and has appeared on many TV shows such as Have I Got News For You plays former Nazi Franz Liebkind, brought on board by Bialystok and Bloom to help them.

He said: “I am very excited about appearing in The Producers. I am a huge fan of the show and for anyone who loves comedy, the chance to perform the work of Mel Brooks is amazing!”

The Producers is at The Mayflower Theatre from Tuesday May 26 to Saturday, May 30.

Contact the box office on 023 8071 1811 or visit mayflower.org.uk.