They say fame comes at a price, and as comedian Phil Nichol has been discovering for his latest tour, that might include a legion of fans, as well as "plenty of stalker-type behaviour".

The Scottish-born Canadian performer has spent the last year garnering material from his own life experiences for Hiro Worship, which arrives in High Wycombe next week.

As the title suggests, Phil adds his own unique brand of humour to a story about idols and celebrity status and uses his Japanese friend, Hiro, as a particularly good case in point.

"Seven years ago this guy from Japan came to see me and ended up staying in my flat for a few weeks," begins the likeable 42-year-old, who now lives in London.

"He'd come by himself and pretty much invaded the stage. He couldn't speak English very well, but he ended up having his photograph taken with me.

"Afterwards he came backstage and I found him in floods of tears. I couldn't understand why, but he kept saying Mick Jagger'. It soon became clear he was a massive Rolling Stones fan and really wanted to meet them. I guess he thought I could help."

Not wanting to leave Hiro in that state, Phil says he took pity on the Japanese tourist and gave him his number.

"I never thought he'd actually call - so then of course he did. It seems he needed a place to stay," adds Phil. "He came over and stayed... well, actually for about five weeks. I kinda enjoyed him being there, but it made my flatmates crazy and my girlfriend at the time even stopped talking to me."

The award-winning performer says he found Hiro endearing, but couldn't quite fathom why meeting someone famous was so important to him.

He adds: "If you become a big celebrity it's like everyone wants to talk to you. I think people get so wrapped up in celebrity worship, because of what they see on the television and read in magazines."

That said, Phil had his very own brush with hero worship, of sorts, when he visited Buckingham Palace last year.

Phil explains: "I got the invite after I won the if.comeddies award for my show, The Naked Racist. I thought it was ridiculous, because all I did was take off all my clothes and here I was meeting the Queen, alongside these 200 other people who had all achieved something.

"I decided to take my mum along, because she's from Scotland originally and respects the Royal Family. In fact, she really looks up to the Queen.

"I'm not particularly royalist, but we were both lost for words when we met her. It was amazing."

Phil first burst onto the comedy scene in the late 1980s as part of the musical comedy trio, Corky and the Juice Pigs, and is perhaps best remembered for the now infamous song, Only Gay Eskimo.

Aside from his success in comedy, Phil has also etched out an acting career for himself, and has starred in Boy George's musical, Taboo, as well as One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, both in the West End. Last year he won a Stage Award for Best Actor for The Zoo Story in Edinburgh.

But if you think with all these achievements under his belt that Phil has just become another celebrity who invites worship, think again.

With never-ending modesty Phil says: "Well, I guess I'm just getting to the point in my career where I'm starting to be recognised. I was stopped three times in the street the other day and I just thought it was all so strange. It's something I'm still trying to get my head round."

Phil Nichol's Hiro Worship arrives at Wycombe Town Hall on Wednesday, March 5, 8pm. Details: 01494 512000 or www.wycombeswan.co.uk