Master of surprise: Comedian Ross Noble on his role in The Producers

Ross Noble admits that he’s not a morning person, but then find me a comedian who is.

A career spent predominantly in late-night comedy clubs, or in Noble’s case stadiums, doesn’t fit in with an early wake-up call.

And yet he’s pretty chirpy, you could even say excited, despite being jetlagged, having just flown in from a comedy festival in Australia.

So what’s the reason for this new-found bonhomie, this skip in his step? His new role in The Producers perhaps? A surprise casting maybe, but one that Noble says he’s ready for and more than able to deliver.

Indeed, Noble isn’t remotely worried about his reincarnation into the world of musical theatre, being more concerned about upsetting the cast.

“I did wonder whether they might be a bit funny about a stand-up barging in when they are all at the top of their game. I mean the dancers and singers are amazing,” he says genuinely. “But they couldn’t have been nicer. I have to say the whole thing is delightful. It’s been a joy from start to finish.”

Excuse my cynicism, but Ross Noble isn’t a Bambi kind of guy, he’s a Geordie comedian who likes motorbikes. And yet here he is waxing lyrical about the virtues of musical theatre.

“I like surprising people,” he says unabashed. “No-one expected me to do a horror film, so I did one. They do expect me to be a team captain on a panel show, so I don’t. I thought I’d do musical theatre instead. I do what interests me rather than taking the obvious path.” The 39 year-old’s dislike of TV is well known although it has done little to impede his booming career, comedy standing him in good stead for The Producers.

“You don’t realise how transferable your skills are until you get up on stage and do something like this. Because timing-wise, comedically, you know how to do it and you can follow the pace and energy of the audience.”

Noble, who replaces Phill Jupitus in the tour, plays Franz Liebkind, whose musical Springtime For Hitler is predicted to bomb, making the producers millions in the meantime.

Not such an unusual choice then for a show with a comedian heavy line-up, Jason Manford being a long-running cast member.

“The Producers has always used comedians, my part was played by Will Ferrell in the film. Lee Evans has been in it. They like people with a comedy background and as for me, I get to sing and dance in a German accent, what could be better? So of course I said yes and even when I’m up on stage I still think ‘how can this be happening?’”

Did he say sing? “Yes,” he says happily, “but again that’s something I do in my stand-up and I’ve mucked around with friends in bands, so it’s not that foreign a concept to me – although nothing close to singing on stage in a West End show.

“But joining The Producers has been a big learning curve and sometimes I do think to myself ‘you total idiot’. For example, at the start, I went hell for leather and then you notice that the next time you get up on stage your voice is really strained so I’ve had to stop doing that and look after myself a bit more. I’m learning,” he grins.

Ross Noble, centre, plays Franz Liebkind whose musical, Springtime For Hitler, is predicted to bomb, making the producers millions

He must enjoy the camaraderie of a big theatre company after years of standing on stage alone? “Yeah, its great to have a little chat backstage and I always join the cast for the physical and vocal warm-up and really enjoy it. It’s like doing aerobics mixed with yoga and Strictly.

“But what is new and different is the script (Noble’s comedy is well known for being random and ad lib), because Mel Brooks wrote the script and honed it so that every line is set up for a punchline. If you go off on one, you are either taking the laugh away from yourself or someone else, and spoil it.

“The script has its own pace and rhythm and doesn’t need some blundering comedian coming in trying to steal all the laughs.”

The main question is why Ross Noble is doing this at all. He’s at the height of his fame, selling out everywhere and in massive demand.

“My name was put forward for The Producers and they called me in for a chat and then asked me to sing, which is when I realised it was an audition,” he chuckles.

“I thought they were mad. I thought: ‘This is insane. I’m singing for a part in a West End musical’. I said to them afterwards ‘I don’t want to do it unless I can do it properly’ and they replied: ‘Don’t worry, we wouldn’t cast you unless you could’. That told me.”

The Producers comes to the New Theatre Oxford from June 29 – July 4. 
Box office on 0844 871 3020 or www.atgtickets.com/oxford.