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.

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

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

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.

People like bonnets. I don't think you can under-estimate that.

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.

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.