Plan for each episode to be a satisfying experience, but still leave the audience thinking, 'Oh, my God! Now what?

Plan for each episode to be a satisfying experience, but still leave the audience thinking, 'Oh, my God! Now what?

As a fairly innocent teenager, growing up in a village in Wales, I just thought, "God, I would like to go and hang about Soho and write great poetry and try to avoid drinking myself to death."

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

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

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

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