London has always been a haven for victims of cruelty, and been improved by them. Yet I can see it changing now. Outsiders are demonised, there are little bits of legislation, people are scared.

I have a lot of people to thank but they're none of them here so I'm not going to bother.

We belabour, I think, under a very heavy crust of consumerism really

Marianne Dashwood looks at gray skies and sees blue. That's all very well, and it's not something you ever want entirely to lose. But you must lose a little of it; otherwise you're going to get wet.

I don't think people understand that being poor means you have to work from dawn until dusk just to survive through the day. I think there's some notion that poor people lie about all day not doing anything.

There is that thing about not working with animals and children - I don't think that's true. Although you should never work with donkeys.

Tell him I mind having to look pretty, that's what I mind, because it is so much more of an effort.