ALTHOUGH their paths had crossed many times over the years, it wasn't until Mike Gunn and Sean Collins appeared together on Michael McIntrye's Comedy Roadshow that the two really bonded.

Mike was the regular stand in, appearing at every venue. If one of the headline acts failed to turn up or there was a problem with the recording, producers would use Mike's performance instead. As a result, at the end of each show, a publicity photographer would snap various permutations of the entire cast – with and without Mike.

"When Sean did the show I said I was there in case someone screwed up, so when he was asked to stand out for the group photograph, he thought he was the weak link. I said, 'tough luck Sean, you just didn't make the grade!'

"Of course, he was great, but when we all laughed, he was off, convinced he was so bad he'd been cut!

"He was OK when he realised it was just a joke, though."

As the two chatted later, Sean suggested they consider a double-bill tour show. The idea grew – they could do their own slots, then conclude the night by improvising together.

"I said 'no!' But Sean wore me down with his relentless Canadian persistence," laughs the Londoner.

"I was really reluctant as I thought no one would come. I don't know why, it's just the way I am. Also, would I get on with him? He wanted to do a double act bit. I'm more Jimmy Carr/Jack Dee mode; he's more relaxed and improvy.

"Because he's Canadian, he's so upbeat. Me? I'm English and downbeat. He uses words like awesome, which I could not get away with."

He adds: "Canadians are like Americans but without the war and food issues.

"I didn't want to do it because I was a bit scared, I guess. But having done it now, I have to say I love it. The best bit of the show, for me, and the audience, is at the end when we do a double act and tag each others' jokes, throw each other curve balls. It is worrying, you never know how it'll turn out, but also exciting."

Though he acknowledges they have different comedy styles, Mike now realises they actually have much in common.

"He brings me up, I bring him down, and we meet somewhere in the middle," he laughs.

"But we have slightly similar backgrounds – I spent time in a drug rehab psychiatric hospital, and he was a counsellor in a psychiatric hospital. And in my experience there's not much difference between people on either side of the counter.

"We've also both been working the circuit for years, both married with kids, both desperate to get off the circuit, both not young or good looking ... and neither of us have got floppy hair or tight jeans," he smiles, highlighting how things have changed for today's rising young comedians. Whereas Mike and Sean's generation had no choice but to trek the UK for years learning their craft before getting spotted by TV, many new acts seem to leap into headlining tours and TV presenting and acting within days of their debut.

"We're a kind of different breed from your new younger acts. There are lots of people who don't have life experience and have never had a proper job, who come straight from drama school and do stand-up comedy just as a way to get into acting. I want to tour, I don't want to act or do drama... although I'd quite like to do an advert... maybe I could be the face of Toilet Duck?"

The tour heads to Nottingham next month.

"When I see those police action TV things with the police on the streets, it always seems to be Nottingham! But I do love the city," insists Mike.

"I hear there more women than men there? Is that true or did I make that up? I'll have to count 'em in the club..."

Mike Gunn and Sean Collins play the Glee Club on March 22. Tickets are £8-£11, call 0871 472 0400 or visit www.glee.co.uk