Writers tend to suffer from back problems because they spend their time bent over a desk.

Even if you've written something for print, I think it's good to try [it] out on someone because it changes. You can think it's hilarious and they can tell you it's not.

Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will make me go in a corner and cry by myself for hours.

I didn't want to be big Mr. Ego walking around.

I'm not careful with my money at all these days. I buy people a lot of dinners!

The idea that we evolved with these thoughts is actually very fascinating - to me.

My father, who was a sergeant in the RAF during the Second World War, was killed in a hitchhiking accident while returning home on compassionate leave. As a result, my mother had to get work, as a nurse, and at seven the RAF put me into a boarding school and ex-orphanage called the Royal Wolverhampton School.