PATRICK Monahan is grateful he has a stand-up tour on the go, not least because it is taking his mind off his imminent Let's Dance For Sport Relief performance.

The comic will make like Rihanna on March 1, but before then he will slip into a more comfortable routine with a night of stand up at Port Talbot's Princess Royal Theatre on Saturday at 7.30pm.

He only has himself to blame for the dance spot — he often leaves his audiences with some fancy footwork after his comedy routines — but he isn't looking forward to being in that spotlight.

"I was hoping they would let me do a routine to something old school like Salt N Pepa, but I think it is going to be Lady Gaga or Christina Aguilera. But it's for charity."

Though he grew up in awe of the stinging routines of Richard Prior and Robin Williams — "When Robin Williams starts talking it is like watching a nuclear reaction," he says — Patrick's is a gentler brand of comedy that sees his audiences settle into a relaxed fug.

"It isn't something I set out to do but I often get through a night of stand-up with out any swearing at all and my act is pretty clean.

"A lot of people come up to me afterwards and give me a hug and thank me for that. I like family shows. I see a lot of comics, who are some of the nicest, most chilled people off stage, just lose control when they get out there, and swear and rant. And sometimes I just think 'what are you doing that for?'"

Dave Allen was his earliest initiation into comedy, thanks to his Irish heritage on his dad's side, he remembers.

"My dad loved Dave Allen and I remember watching it with him, often not understanding a lot of it, but laughing because my dad was laughing so hard. "When I got a bit older I realised how clever Allen was and what a professional he was."

The quality of his material still chimes with Patrick, he says. "When I was starting out I don't think I realised that comics had written material. I thought they just got up and said funny things.

"But then where I grew up in Teeside there weren't comedy clubs. When I came to London I would go out in town and the clubs had acoustic music night on a Monday, comedy nights on Tuesday with nine acts in the first half and nine in the second. They had poetry nights on a Wednesday — there were so many opportunities to get involved. Though I didn't have a clue what I was doing."