Taking the humour out of Dickens, it's not Dickens any more.

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.

I know that a ridiculous number of classic serials have been commissioned, and that reviews show a reaction against them. The critics seem fed up.

The older I get, the more fun it is to write young people. It's just a holiday from what is becoming old age, really.

The joy of writing drama is putting yourself into different people's heads.

The most moving scene for me in 'Pride and Prejudice' is the Pemberley music room scene: Elizabeth has just saved Darcy's sister from embarrassment and confusion, and as the music plays on, Darcy's look of gratitude becomes a look of love, which we see reciprocated in Elizabeth's eyes.

I remain, however, fairly optimistic for the future of period drama because it's just such a popular thing.