With stand-up you've just got that one chance. Audiences can be quite fickle.

You don't want to be flattered and become big-headed by getting awards. But, well, I am.

Writing a book about yourself is like therapy, and you go 'Oh My God, that's the reason that happened.' Writing about it, you're forced to really examine things.

I struggle as a writer, and I'm convinced that if I was at school now, I'd be termed as having ADS. Two minutes and I'm drifting.

I came back from university thinking I knew all about politics and racism, not knowing my dad had been one of the youngest-serving Labour councillors in the town and had refused to work in South Africa years ago because of the situation there. And he's never mentioned it - you just find out. That's a real man to me. A sleeping lion.

Up North you are holding your own. Everyone considers themselves a comedian.

It can be tough as a jobbing actor.