I'm not a perfectionist at all. I find perfectionists boring because the real creative heart is in the mess somewhere.

Liverpool has always made me brave, choice-wise. It was never a city that criticised anyone for taking a chance.

I think the corruption of power is very interesting, and I think the idea that power is something that... You know, when people want power, they're a certain individual. When people acquire power by accident, they're different again.

My house is very clean apart from a very small part of it that looks as if we've been burgled, which is my office.

I'm no good at down-time. I panic slightly and then plan a project or set up a meeting about starting a project.

I always have to go out to work even if it's just a desk somewhere or an office or the British Library.

I always try to put myself in the way of surprise as much as possible. My ambition is to keep challenging myself. I like that journey of discovery.