IT has been 14 years since Paul Merton last toured the UK as a comedian. Which may explain why for his new tour, Out Of My Head, he'll be joined by a few friendly faces.

Lee Simpson, Richard Vranch and Suki Webster will help the Have I Got News For You? panelist present a brand new show featuring sketches, music, magic, variety and dancing girls.

"We're having such a great time," beams the comedian, who has also enjoyed a second career as a travel documentary presenter with Paul Merton in China, Paul Merton in India, Paul Merton in Europe and Paul Merton's Adventures.

"It's about taking the plunge and devising a show that is fully scripted," he continues.

"It has stand-up, sketches, interaction with the audience, and a few things that will startle people. Working on a tour that starts off as a mere jotting on the back of a fag packet and develops into a spectacular show is a sheer joy."

I meet Merton, Simpson, Vranch and Webster at a central London theatre, during rehearsals for the 50-date tour.

"I get such a buzz from performing live," says Merton, who has been a key member of improv group The Comedy Store Players since 1985.

"It's just the best rush in the world, better than anything else you can think of. If you're trying to convince a TV producer that something is funny, it can take ages. But if you have a good idea with The Comedy Store Players, you can just say it there and then.

"You don't have to take it to a commissioning editor, or get a budget and have the comedy kicked out of it by a committee. And you immediately know whether it's funny because you'll hear the sound of laughter – or not!"

The former Room 101 presenter adds: "It's so inspiring. You just ride the wave of laughter, and then you might come up with something equally funny. Ralph Richardson used to talk about pushing a huge ball up a hill to the point where it suddenly gains momentum and starts rolling down the other side. That's what live comedy is like.

"The only snag is, you have to do it while trying to look completely relaxed."

He stays "in the zone" by performing every week with The Comedy Store Players.

"That feeds into everything else I do. When Have I Got News For You? comes around, I don't think, 'Oh no, I'm a bit rusty'. You're match fit all the time."

That said, Out of My Head is a carefully scripted and rehearsed show.

"We get to repeat moments we really enjoy," he says.

"In improv, you can't go back and do it again, but here you can say, 'What if I delay my entrance tonight by five seconds to build up the tension? Will that make it funnier?' Here you get the chance to create a show over a sustained period of rehearsal – and that's wonderful! This is about the art of creation over a good while rather merely saying the first thing that comes into your head.

"We have the opportunity and the time to fit together all the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle and throw out lines that will never be said again."

"Except in anger," adds Simpson.

"Lawyers have been consulted," chips in Vranch.

Merton clearly enjoys the team effort.

"Having spent so many years working with other people, when I did a stand-up tour on my own in 1998, I really didn't enjoy sitting on my own in the dressing room during the interval.

"I used to beg Lee to come along as the director, and he would say, 'No, I've been along far more than any other director. I am not coming to Newcastle again!'

"Everything I do is team stuff. It's much more fun if you're not twiddling your thumbs on your own." Then adds with a grin: "All the same, I'm sure I'll be sitting there on this tour thinking, 'Why did I bring those guys along?'"

Says Webster: "We're like a comical Greek chorus. We come on and illustrate the points Paul is making."

And the dancing?

"It's a broad interpretation of the word 'dance'," she laughs.

"We're the Paul Merton Dancers!"

Despite the script there will be plenty of audience interaction during the show.

"A fourth wall won't suddenly appear," says Simpson. "Paul's connection with the audience will remain. It will be more like a fourth permeable membrane."

Paul Merton's Out Of My Head comes to the Royal Concert Hall on Monday May 14. Tickets are £23 from the box office, call 0115 989 5555 or visit www.trch.co.uk.