WALKING on the wild side of science on television is a regular occurrence for Professor Alice Roberts, but now she is transferring to the stage exploring the creatures that have become man’s best friends.

The anatomist, physical anthropologist and osteoarchaelogist is best known for her TV appearances on Time Team with Tony Robinson, various science documentaries, Coast and The Celts: Blood Iron and Sacrifice, with Neil Oliver, earlier this year The Day The Dinosaurs Died, and her landmark series for the BBC, Digging For Britain.

“I took my daughter, who was only five weeks old, on the road while we were filming Digging For Britain in 2010. My producer was wonderful.

“It makes me cross when the work place is not made to accommodate families. Like every working parent I have to juggle work and family but I am freelance half the time so can sort my hours, but I don’t see why we can’t take baby to work,’’ said Alice.

Her new show, Tamed, is heading for Swindon’s Wyvern Theatre on Monday. Tamed is based on a book out now and published by Hutchinson. It features 10 species that have become our allies.

“Imagine being the first person to leap on to the back of a horse,’’ said Alice. “Tamed is an illustrated lecture, very dramatic. I love telling stories, writing stories about people from the past, people like us, we investigate the past dispassionately, but then put it back in context, making it accessible.’’

Away from her science and television presenting, Alice takes time out to jump on a surf board, ride out on her bike, potter in the garden and get creative with water colour painting. In 1988 she won the BBC 1 Blue Peter Young Artists competition and appeared on the front cover of the Radio Times.

“Mum was an arts teacher so it was all around us, readily available and she would paint with us. So arts and crafts are important to me and now I do it with my children,’’ she said. “It’s calming and serene.’’

Alice was brought up in Westbury as an Anglican Church of England member but her analytical mind soon needed to examine faith in all its guises more closely.

“As a teen I approached it rationally, I needed to find a kernel of truth to support the ideals. I found the Humanist belief of the goodness of people instead. I believe spiritualism is inside all of us,’’ she said.

Alice has written a number of books including The Celts: Search For A Civilisation that ran alongside the TV series The Celts, and she has contributed to scientific articles and journals.

Tamed begins at 7.30pm at the Wyvern and tickets are £21 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheatres.co.uk - Flicky Harrison