He might dazzle us with words week in week out on television but believe it or not, Paul Merton's favourite comics are the silent ones.

In his new tour, Silent Clowns, he introduces us to his best-loved silent-film stars such as deathless comedians Buster Keaton, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and Laurel and Hardy, showing clips from some of their films before presenting Keaton's Seven Chances in its entirety.

“I love silent films,” said the Have I Got News For You star.

"They are just so exhilarating, particularly when accompanied by music.

"The final 25 minutes of Safety Last!, in which Lloyd does a death-defying climb up a skyscraper, is as potent a 25 minutes of cinema as you’ll see anywhere.

"The stars of those films were totally committed to their work and brilliant physical performers, perfect for silent films.

"Keaton made two films a year for a producer who let him do whatever he wanted. He had a creative freedom that film makers never get nowadays.”

The comic will be accompanied by Neil Brand on stage, a talented pianist whose playing adds much to the silent movies.

“I always say to Neil, "my name brings them in, but it’s you who keeps them there",” said Paul.

“It’s intriguing how much music changes the whole experience.

"It’s totally different from watching a silent film on TV or on your own or with some god-awful organ music in the background. It’s such an uplifting experience.

“Neil always serves the film, not the other way round as a silent film can by ruined by bad music and he never treads on any laughs, always keeps it fresh and relevant. His judgement is superb.

“You have to have a musician who gets it as it’s not just a question of writing ten minutes of music for a ten-minute film. The sound has to complement the pictures.”

Keaton's 1925 film Seven Chances, which he directed and starred in, is one of his best loved films and Merton expressed his undying admiration for the comedian.

“He was just so dedicated and constantly striving to produce something wonderful," he said.

"He ate, drank, slept and dreamt movies and that shines though in his attention to detail. He was an absolute perfectionist.

“He also had astonishing agility combined with a fantastic talent for physical comedy.

"No one could do comic falls like he could. Producers tried to persuade him to use stuntmen, but he always refused, saying that their falls just wouldn’t be funny enough.”

Paul Merton's Silent Clowns, Fairfield Halls, May 12, 7pm, £13.50 to £14.50. Call 020 8688 9291 or visit fairfield.co.uk.