Eccentric comedian Russell Brand will embark on a new comedy tour with a Jewish twist.

The Essex-born star is set to visit an array of synagogues and mosques in the Middle East as part of a new comedy show that will “dissect religion” and the lives of religious leaders.

The Messiah Complex tour will follow the 38-year-old on visits to religious institutions in Lebanon, Palestine and Israel.

The Forgetting Sarah Marshall actor is promoting the tour using an image of himself with a necklace made up of symbols that include a Star of David, a swastika and 'M' that appears to represent the McDonald’s logo.

Brand said: “I am going to tour the world with Messiah Complex causing bother and excitement and offering opinions that have not been either solicited or thought through.

“Of course I'll be in English-speaking countries (UK, Ireland, US, Canada) but also Scandinavia, Russia, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine; anywhere that will have me, to be honest, and that are relaxed about free speech.

“As well as theatres I will be appearing in prisons, drug rehabs, social network HQs, universities, nationalist organisations, mosques, foreclosed houses, protest sites, synagogues and in people’s private homes.”

The tour will open in Abu Dhabi this August.