Frank Skinner has forgiven Saints for beating his beloved West Bromwich Albion in last year's play-offs - and is looking forward to touring the city's historic walls when he visits next week.

The treasured comedian, best known for the smash hit England song Three Lions with his comedy partner David Baddiel and The Lightning Seeds, is bringing his new stand-up show Thirty Years of Dirt to Mayflower Theatre on Tuesday (October 1).

Frank is a football and history buff and often takes in both as he travels the country.

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"I like to go and see the places I'm visiting," he says. I'm very much looking forward to seeing the walls in Southampton, I love an old wall!"

He's just about over the two-legged Championship play-off semi-final last season in which Saints saw off his team, West Brom, to book their place at Wembley and, ultimately, earn promotion back to the Premier League.

Frank said: "I thought Southampton were the best team I saw in the Championship and that's among some really strong sides, so it wasn't really a surprise when you were promoted.

"We've done it a few times of course. But there's such a gulf now that being promoted is akin to winning a lion in a raffle. First of all it's really exciting, but before long you think how am I going to live with this lion?!"

Frank, also well known for Fantasy Football League and Room 101 for TV, laughs at the prospect of a '60 years of hurt' spin off of Three Lions for the 2026 World Cup, but says 'who knows what might happen!'

For now, he's enjoying being back on stage.

He adds: "This is me trying to be a bit less rude - and failing! I love making people laugh, I would say what I do is only one level up from tickling!

"My dream was to be a professional stand up comedian. If I'd still been playing the clubs, I'd still be blissfully happy. There's nothing like going out on stage, but the other stuff has of course been a bonus.

"I'm a throw back now, on a par with vaudeville, but I still love it."

Limited tickets for Frank's show are available from mayflower.org.uk