A distinguished producer called Kenith Trodd actually lived in his office for over a year - the cleaners refused to go in because it was such a tip.

Most actors hate readthroughs - they're exposing themselves before they're ready to, and before they've bonded. But I love them because they give us all the first inkling of what the whole show is going to be like, how each part affects every other part, and we won't see that again until it's all edited together.

Look at Jane Austen. Her characters derive in a reasonably straight line from fairy tales.

I'm absolutely delighted if people think of me as a reliable purveyor of quality period stuff.

I'd love to adapt more contemporary novels. But there isn't really enough story and character to make a really satisfying serial, so they tend to be single dramas.

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 would love it if anyone gave me the job of adapting 'The Great Gatsby,' but nobody ever does.