Collins – one half of legendary Australian comedy duo The Umbilical Brothers – is also pretty keen to bask in the comparative leniency of Tasmania’s parking fines.

“When we were last here your parking fines were about $14,” he said.  

“I remember when we were last there and we parked the van with all the stuff in it - we put money in the meter but it ran out and we got a fine.

“We came back and all of us we were s***ting ourselves because the fine was only worth $14, so we just left the car there because the fines were (almost) cheaper than paying for parking in the end.”

The Umbilical Brothers will perform four times in Tasmania between July 13 and 16, bringing their legendary show Speedmouse to Burnie, Devonport, Hobart and Launceston.

During a career spanning nearly 30 years, the duo has performed in 37 countries across the world and even met the Queen at 2005’s Royal Variety Performance in Wales.

“The scouts for the Royal Variety Performance came and saw us and they wanted us to do the last bit of (our show The Rehearsal), which was me being attacked by a nine-foot high glove puppet and a bear.

“They really physically attack me at the end of the show and we were like 'they want us to do this for the Queen?' 

“So we did it, I got attacked by a massive bear in front of the Queen and she p***ed herself, she really laughed.”

Surrounded by A-grade celebrities and mentally occupied by addressing Her Majesty in the correct fashion, Collins admits he nearly didn’t recognise the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

“I actually got them confused, I got Prince Philip and the Queen confused with Ozzy Sharon Osbourne. 

“Sharon Osbourne was the same height, she had her hair similar to the Queen and dressed similar to the Queen and just behind her, shuffling behind her was this hunched-over man kind of mumbling.

“They’re carbon copies of each other, the Queen and Prince Philip and Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.”

Now more than 10 years old, Speedmouse is one of The Umbilical Brothers’ most-loved shows, although Collins says it has changed dramatically over time. 

“If you’ve seen our Speedmouse DVD you could actually come to this show and enjoy it because three quarters of the show is different.

“The structure of the show is the same but we’re keeping it interesting for ourselves as much as our audience by changing all the jokes.”