Stand up comedian Simon Day thoroughly enjoyed playing the playboy in the TV series Hustle, but admits that the biggest kick for him was meeting Man From Uncle star Robert Vaughan.

"It was great to meet him, a great loss when he died. I remember going over to meet him and he was big into Civil Rights so we had a deep discussion about it,'' said Simon, who is bringing his new show to Swindon next week.

Simon Day In Character does what it says on the can, the comedian is giving four of his best known alter egos their five minutes in the spotlight.

The characters are Brian Pern the star of Brian Pern: A Life of Rock, Billy Bleach, the pub bore from the Fast Show, poet Geoffrey Allerton and long serving prisoner Tony Beckton.

Simon said: "Bill is the easiest to do, the most relaxed, Tony is the challenge and Brian is based on the fact that I was in a band when I was 16 called Sinner and The Virgins.''

Brian, an ageing prog rock star, is a thinly disguised version of Genesis' Peter Gabriel.

"I wasn't into Genesis' music but I liked Peter Gabriel's solo stuff,'' said Simon. "I have always had a passion for music, not prog rock more Kate Bush. I am an obsessive music collector and my brother is a DJ. I lived in South East London so followed Squeeze. We were all in bands then, now my vocation is stand-up.''

Peter Gabriel was obviously not offended by the character.

"He did a show for us and came in one week wearing the same clothes,'' said Simon.

The comic has written his autobiography, Comedy and Error: They Really Were Marvellous Times - entirely from memory!

"All yarns near the truth. Being a comedian I have told the stories many times. It's easier than fiction, but I am proud of it and it's now on Amazon,'' he said.

Simon has appeared on a number of TV shows including Heartbeat, Jonathan Creek, Skins, a ferryman on the Thames in the film Shakespeare in Love and Death In Paradise.

"I got paid for a holiday in Guadalupe, I went swimming before I went to work on Death In Paradise. I loved it,'' he said.

The comedian is also a huge sports fan, supporter of Tottenham Hotspur and pundit on the long running BBC Radio 5 Sports Pundit Quiz Fighting Talk.

He is also game for a laugh against himself and took part in Comic Relief 2003 in an attempt to learn to drive. He and all the other contestants failed!

"Being funny while under instruction is not conducive to passing your test,'' he said. He has since passed his test.

Simon Day will be appearing at the Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road, Old Town on Friday, October 13 from 8pm. Tickets are £21, £26 from 01793 524481 or visit www.swindontheares.co.uk - Flicky Harrison