Noel loses pop show role over drug revelations

Noel Fielding has reportedly been dropped as a team captain on the next series of Never Ming The Buzzcocks after revealing his drug use.

In a frank interview over the weekend, he told how he developed a problem with drugs after trying to chase the highs of appearing on stage every night – but said he has been clean for six months, after he realised how much they were affecting the work.

But the reassurances were apparently not enough for the BBC, who have withdrawn ther offer the regular slot on the pop quiz,The Sun reports today.

The paper quotes an unnamed source saying: ‘He’s really disappointed because he was looking forward to the gig so much.’

Fielding came clean over his problems at the weekend, revealing that he fell into the hedonistic lifestyle as his Mighty Boosh fame began to rise.

The 36-year-old said he took ketamine, ecstasy, mushrooms and acid – but cocaine was his drug of choice.

He said: ‘I started partying way too much, not doing any work. I took too many drugs and was hanging out with the wrong people.

‘We were on the cover of NME five times. I did actually think I was David Bowie But I'm really not. I'm actually quite nerdy.’

Fielding said his coke habit reached a nadir when he tried to recreate the highs of performing in front of thousands of fans on the Boosh tours of 2006 and 2008.

In the interview with the News Of The World, he said: ‘I went out all the time to try and replace the buzz of performing with alcohol and drugs.

‘My body was craving a buzz. It's difficult to relax and chill out. The times I've really lost it have been after I've been on tour. It lasts about three months and then you go on holiday, calm down and think, “What was I doing?”’

‘If you do too many drugs it takes away any innocence you have. I don't want that. I want to retain a sense of magic. What I do is quite childlike and magical.’

Published: 17 Aug 2009