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

I suppose I have the tastes of someone who teaches at a university in the provinces.

Rebecca Eaton has made an enormous contribution to the cultural life of America, and, more than that, she is one of the most fun people I know.

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

From time to time there is a move to do a little less in the way of period dramas, but people rebel. Audiences say we want them. There is a big hunger for them. I don't think it's sentimentality or nostalgia, it's often that they are simply the best stories.

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