Buzzcocks role for Noel

Noel Fielding is to be a permanent team captain on the next series of Never Mind The Buzzcocks.

The seat opposite Phill Jupitus has been taken by a number of guest captains since Bill Bailey left last year, but the Mighty Boosh star will fill the gap every week of the next run.

Fielding does have experience of the position, having previously replaced Bailey for three shows in the 2007 series.

The new series, the 23rd, is set to be filmed towards the end of the year and will be without host Simon Amstell, who has announced his departure to concentrate on stand-up.

Having Fielding as a permanent fixture might give some stability to the show in the face of a new presenter, or revolving series of guest hosts.

Meanwhile, Ordinary Boy Preston – who walked off the show in 2007 after Amstell mocked his wife Chantelle Houghton’s autobiography – has finally said he regretted his behaviour.

The singer and reality TV star divorced soon afterwards, and he has somewhat faded from the public eye. But now, in an interview plugging his new single, the 27-year-old told the BBC: ‘I'm struggling to think why I would have acted so weird.’

As he tries to get his solo career off the ground, Preston added that he wanted to return to the BBC Two show, saying: ‘I would love to go on there and show them that I'm not a tantrum-y person.’

Published: 7 Aug 2009