He is the son of Dianne Fielding and Ray Fielding. Noel Fielding was born on May 21, 1973, in Westminster, London, England. He is English by nationality and belongs to White ethnicity. His highly animated stand-up routine included surreal stories, physical comedy, characters, and songs, much like his later work in The Mighty Boosh. Fielding attended the Croydon School of Art in South London. He grew up along with his brother, Michael Fielding, now a comedian as well, in Pollards Hill, South London.

Fielding performed regularly as a stand-up comedian during the late 1990s, and appeared repeatedly on the television stand-up showcase Lee Mack's Gas.