Ruby Wax, presenter, actress, comedian, author and staunch campaigner for those suffering from mental health problems, is touring the UK to help stamp out watch she calls the Frazzled epidemic.

Having suffered from depression herself, the comedian is well aware of the 'tears of the clown' syndrome, but having studied for a Master's Degree in Mindfulness-based Cognitive Therapy, she is armed for battle against stress that she points out 'can attack anyone'.

Ruby has written two books on the subject: A Mindfullness Guide for the Frazzled and Sane New World. Her latest show, Ruby Wax: Frazzled, which comes to Swindon's Wyvern Theatre on Monday, May 15 at 7.30pm, is based on her books. It is in a forum setting where Ruby is open to discussion.

"I am not reading from the books, I tell people what to do about it. It's a survival kit through comedy. I explain why it happens to us and that it is not our fault,'' said Ruby. "The second half is interactive with the audience. I am very happy with the tour, we have 40 dates and they are all sold out.''

Ruby is intrigued by the workings of the mind and she graduated in psychology from the University of California, Berkeley.

"The brain is more powerful than the computer,'' she said. "I agree with Bill Bryson that we have to spring clean to clear away the cobwebs.''

The actress was very close to the film actor Alan Rickman who died last year. They met when Ruby was starting her career as a straight actress, working at The Crucible Theatre in Sheffield. Alan went on to direct many of her stage shows.

"I lost my best friend. I lost someone who was my mentor. He's gone!''

She spent many years with the Royal Shakespeare Company working alongside such actors as Michael Hordern and Juliet Stevenson, before moving to television.

One of her first comedy roles was in the sitcom Girls On Top, she also had a guest appearance on one of the Red Dwarf episodes and in the feature film Omen lll: The Final Conflict. ITV Channel 4 gave Ruby her own chat show Don't Miss Wax and in 1991 she moved to the BBC as chat show host on various programmes including Ruby Wax Meets... where she interview Imelda Marcos, Pamela Anderson and Sarah, Duchess of York.

"She was innocent and naive at the time.'' said Ruby of the Duchess of York. "It was pleasurable doing TV and this is pleasurable now. No more interviewing, that was then, this is now.''

Ruby is never afraid to go the extra mile for charity and was a regular on Comic Relief. As a contestant on Comic Relief Does Fame Academy she got to the final, on Comic Relief Does Master Chef she prepared an appetiser for David Cameron, the PM at the time, she was a celebrity showjumper in the Fools On Horses Comic Relief and she won The Apprentice Comic Relief.

"I could ride before I did the showjumping, it was a long time ago and I was pretty good on the Apprentice because I won,'' she said.

Ruby was awarded the OBC in 2015 for her Services to Mental Health but she says her real reward is to help everyone, and see them laughing.

They say laughter is the best medicine so tickets to join Ruby Wax: Frazzled, A Guide to Mindfulness in Swindon are £23.50 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison