Recovered from a disturbing phase of dressing-up withdrawal, this Natural Born Mincer tour sees the king of innuendo back on track.

He returns with unrestrained campery and outrageously decadent costumes, make-up and sets.

"It is a very extravagant and theatrical show," he explains "I glide on stage in a giant stiletto shoe wearing a corset festooned with flowers.

"We'll be singing La Vie en Rose and I Beg Your Pardon and there'll be as many sundry costume changes as I can cram in. My favourite is this huge pink kimono with an eight foot chain that I'll wear, should I be so lucky as to get an encore."

Julian became a household name and a national treasure beloved of mums and open-minded grannies through his penchant for glittery glamour.

When he launched himself on the cabaret circuit the trend was for stand-ups to go on stage wearing jeans to emphasise an honest image but the camp icon decided this left a gap in the market for male glamour.

A few Joan Collins Fan Club tours and Sticky Moments-style TV shows later, Julian had hit the big time with a name which rhymed with fairy and an image based on beauty spots, arched eyebrows and Lycra outfits.

Then in the Nineties came the horrifying decision to pack away the fancy dress box and wear suits.

"I don't know why I did that in retrospect," he puzzles, "I think I got to the age of about 40 and I thought I must grow up now, as I thought it was time to be sensible.

"I had a fear of being undignified, I think. But I'm over that now.

"Just as I found it quite liberating to do away with all the costumes I now find it quite liberating to put them on again."

For someone who makes numerous changes of clothing and transformations of image such an integral part of their show, this desire to be rid of the extravagant look and experiment with being a plain-clothed performer could be seen as a costume change in itself.

Instead of swapping a skin-tight rubber catsuit for a sequinned ballgown, it seems Julian wanted to try out a costume he had ignored for years- that of normal (well, nearly) clothes.

Stripped of the outward decoration he is known for meant inevitable changes to his style of show.

With less emphasis on the visual effects there was more on the verbal content and Julian's personality.

The star is known for contrasting extremes of temperament and character as well as image, fluctuating between moods of energetic social flamboyance and solitary aloofness, a trait he believes to be typical of most comedians.

"We're usually quite introspective and like to observe but then we also have huge egos and need lots of attention.

"You've got to stand back and see what's going on or you'll have nothing to talk about when you get out there. And, of course, I'm a Gemini..."

Abandoning his trademark garb was in effect giving the more subdued side to his nature a public face, a move never destined to last very long.

After these few sober years doing pantomimes and rejecting glitzy wardrobes, his love of camp fantasy, make-up and extravagance is back.

Again, he sits in his dressing room painting his face for 45 minutes before each show.

He says: "When I'm on tour by myself I do my own make-up, I just slap it on.

"But I can only really do tarty make-up, make myself look like a cheap whore. That's the look I've gone for."

Again, he's wearing enough elaborate dresses for an entire Mardi Gras, individually designed numbers commissioned from Jasper Conran and Mike Nicholls, designer for Boy George's West End musical Taboo.

And he's loving it.

"I think being on the road with my own show is what gives me most job satisfaction, as it has been quite a creative process.

"The costumeless shows were more revealing of my true self but this show is camp nonsense and great fun.

"I can't wait to do the show in Brighton. I love it there because I've got a home in the city and also I love that particular venue."

Unbeknown to many, Julian has a house in Hove as well as others in London and Majorca.

"I've always loved Brighton and, as the years go on, I've got more and more friends who have moved there.

"London suits me very well most of the time but there are times when I just get driven mad by it and I need to go somewhere less frantic and get a blow on the front."

The show is part of a 50-date tour taking in Ireland and most of the UK's major venues.

It also features ex-Sticky Moments sidekick Hugh Jelly, Taboo singer Gail MacKinnon and pianist Sarah Travis and will debate gay dating with illegal immigrants, encounters with the Queen and a history of mincing from the caveman to Will Young.

Starts 8pm, tickets cost £16.50/£18.50. Call 01273 709709 for further information.