But as in all cults, what's central to the Communist Party is the belief system and the elimination of nuance. From there you're very slowly led down the road to fanaticism and mass murder.

I did six series for the BBC and that was enough. I've been writing for ten years, which is more challenging artistically.

Americans have different ways of saying things. They say 'elevator', we say 'lift'... they say 'President', we say 'stupid psychopathic git.

Most of my friends are women - I quite fancied being a woman in a way.

If someone starts agreeing with me, I don't like it. Out of pique, I become something else.

Honestly, sometimes I get really fed up of my subconscious - it's like it's got a mind of its own.

People are more violently opposed to fur than leather because it's safer to harass rich women than motorcycle gangs.