Richard McCourt, one half of children's TV favourites, Dick and Dom, started his showbiz career as a runner and tea boy.

After a vocational course in media studies, Richard gradually worked his way up to become what is known in TV speak as the 'broom-cupboard link', introducing television programmes for the BBC.

He was teamed with another link, Dominic Wood, as Richard and Dominic and this became the foundation for the comedy duo Dick and Dom.

Their antics in 2002 in their own BAFTA winning children's programme, Dick and Dom in da Bungalow, made them a household name, and included their trade mark zany games content.

Other programmes followed, including Diddy TV, Absolute Genius With Dick and Dom and The Legend of Dick and Dom.

Today the comedy duo are bringing their TV show to the stage and will be stopping off in Swindon on Tuesday, April 18.

Richard said: "We mix a bit of all of our shows in the stage production - and you can count on loads of mess. We split the audience into two teams and act out a boxing match, Dick v Dom, and we all have a big fun fight with lots of audience participation.''

Although frequently compared to Ant and Dec the guys say they are very different.

"Ant and Dec are fantastic as Saturday night adult entertainment and we are more anarchy and mess,'' said Richard.

Dick and Dom reached out to a wider audience when they took over the airwaves on BBC Radio One with their own Sunday morning show, and Richard says they are hoping to return to radio in the near future.

The boys are also in demand for voice-overs and are well known in the kooky Bananas In Pyjamas, and Horrid Henry the Movie. "We also did the film Asterix and Obelix: Mansion of the Gods,'' said Richard. "It's exciting doing films and we got to work with Richard E Grant, it was a great experience.''

The friendship between the presenters both on and off screen is genuine, they even shared a flat in the early days.

"And da Bungalow,'' laughed Richard, who is godfather to Dom's two children. "We are best friends.''

The presenters are also keen to do their bit on the charity stakes including some crazy stunts for Comic Relief.

"That was where we dressed up as nuns and celebrated the feature film The Sound of Music,'' said Richard.

The presenter has also tackled a full marathon in aid of Alzheimer's Society. "It was hard, I had trained for 20 miles but the last six is the killer. My time was six and a half hours but I did it.''

He runs two or three times a week, goes cycling, is a firm Sheffield Wednesday fan but still insists he is not sporty.

Both Dick and Dom were definitely the jokers at school, Richard says he spent most of his time being thrown out of class for joking around or talking. They have both appeared as guests on various TV shows including Dom on Celebrity Mastermind answering questions on Jimi Hendrix, and Richard on The Missing Link.

"Yes, Anne Robinson is everything you see her on the television,'' he said.

The duo have also ventured into panto although only once together and that was Cinderella in Birmingham with Bradley Walsh.

But the next big venture for the dynamic duo is a new comedy drama. "It is a fabulously exciting, we are working with the BBC on this,'' said Richard. "We want a comedy drama for a family to sit down and watch together.''

Dick and Dom Live is at Swindon's Wyvern Theatre on Tuesday, April 18 at 2pm and 6pm. Tickets are £15 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison