Listening to classical music is a journey not a state; it's an activity not a meditation.

Any president's second term ends up being quite messy. It never goes quite according to plan.

As a gut thing, my next project is always the complete opposite of the thing I've just done. So if I've spent a lot of time doing film, I might then do some radio.

I think it's a slightly crazy time actually, it's very difficult to satirise because each of politicians is in their own way enacting a commentary on the world of politics anyway. To then comment on them just feels like adding another layer. I find it very difficult to do jokes about current politics because for me it's all about... I actually genuinely want people to be involved properly, you know? I mean, the number of people who don't vote... Frightening, really.

Death is a fickle hen, and random are her eggs.

I don't think I could ever reach the giddy heights of the inspired comedy and tragedy that's happening now in Washington. I mean, it's mesmerizing to watch but it's also scary. For me, the scariest thing about it is all those people who were so absolutely opposed to Donald Trump before he got elected, and then have just drifted away and kept quiet. It goes back to: We've always got to be vigilant about democracy because it can go wrong.

I'm a bit of a political geek anyway, so you tend to write how you think the rhythms of an administration will go.