English television from the Fifties to the Nineties was the least bad in the world, and now it's just as bad as it is anywhere.

I'm struck by how laughter connects you with people. It's almost impossible to maintain any kind of distance or any sense of social hierarchy when you're just howling with laughter. Laughter is a force for democracy.

Filming is like a long air journey: there's so much hanging around and boredom that they keep giving you food.

I think we're all born with a sense of humor. Creativity is another thing though.

I would say that I began with a very edgy, very driven personality and after a sufficient amount of therapy over many, many years, I managed to become rather relaxed and happy.

My views are heretical to people who believe in political correctness.

I could take an umbrella and balance it on my chin or on my foot. And I just got interested in that kind of thing. And as I played games more and more and got stronger physically, I just became more coordinated.