AN exhibit of a stuffed goat at the Tate Modern was one of the inspirations that led to comedian Robin Ince’s new solo show.

Best known for his collaboration with Professor Brian Cox on the BBC 4 television series The Infinity Monkey Cage, for which they won a Sony Gold Award, the comic is touring the UK with his show, Pragmatic Insanity.

“The stuffed goat exhibit was by Robert Rauschenberg who believed in his art coming from pain. It made me want my art to come from joy. If I had seen the exhibit in a book I would have thought it was not my thing, but my comedy is all about pushing outside our comfort zone. We need to go to an art exhibition, a gig or whatever, to collide with the unusual,’’ said Robin.

In his show the comedian ponders the right way to go insane in these strange times, he also ponders art, love, physics and death. “It is all done in my overly frenetic performance style,’’ he said. His joyous romp will be stopping off in Swindon this month.

Last year Robin and Brian did a 150-date tour including arenas including Wembley.

“We get on really well, we only had two arguments during the whole time and they were both about equations. People were always surprised how relaxed we were before our arena shows but it was because we were comfortable with each other, and We both believe that science is for everyone, a lot of fun and adventure,’’ said Robin, who admits that he is not quite so relaxed on his own tours in much smaller venues.

The comedian and Brian were also presenters on the Secret Life of Birds programme where they met Bran the Raven, who also recently visited Swindon in the stage show Our Life With Birds.

“Ravens are often called the feathered apes because of their intelligence and when you saw Bran bouncing around and looking up into Brian’s eyes as if he were sizing him up, you believe it,’’ said Robin, who is also a regular guest on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6 radio show.

“That came about because we were both at Reading festival one year and came up with the idea of taking a listener’s music selection and from that I have to work out who they are? where they came from? and what they do? I usually get it wrong!’’ he said. “But when I get it right it is a real joy.’’

Robin is no stranger to music himself having briefly been the front man for The Reg Gutteridge Experience, named after the boxer.

“We decided I was not lead singer material and that I had more freedom with stand-up. You can take all the risks you want,’’ he said. “It is often my failures that have turned out to be for the best.’’

The comic began his career at The Edinburgh Fringe where Eddie Izzard was running a venue. He was, and is good friends with Ricky Gervais and supported him on two tours.

“I stopped after two, because he was just too famous, I would always have been his support act, but we still record together. In fact next week he is doing a podcast with me.’’

Robin and Pragmatic Insanity heads for Swindon’s Arts Centre on Thursday, April 12 at 8pm. Tickets are £17.50 from 01793 524481 or www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison