The BBC fulfils a wonderful cultural function. Maybe the problem is that it feels it needs to be everything to everybody.

I prefer love scenes to be shot up close with a lot of focus on eyes and mouths. Otherwise it can feel uncomfortable and voyeuristic.

I was getting rewarded for writing well, from about the age of five or six. A teacher would say, "Look what Andrew has written," and I thought, "Maybe I could be a writer."

I had a mother who was very emotionally demanding, wanting to be the centre of attention. As they say in EastEnders, she thought it was all about 'er. I spent a lot of time trying to work out what was going on.

The writer in movies is about as low as you can get and you really are a hired hand. You are paid a lot of money to be treated like dirt.

I always do like to write love stories, even if they end tragically.

My wife likes history and documentaries, but I'm not so keen on them. I generally go and do some work if there's one of those on.