I actually enjoy being heckled; it keeps it interesting, and I think it is a nice feeling for people once they have left the show.

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

I think it sort of dawns on you that if you're not gigging constantly you're not actually relevant. You may be relevant to a different part of the media now, to television commissioners and editors, but to a young live-comedy audience you're not, really.

My forte is playing drunks down the ages. When my agent rings me about a role, I don't ask what the part is, but what century it's in.

I hate flying, airports and the whole rigmarole - queuing up, security and lost luggage.

I've got little ankles and a bit of a belly, so it makes me look rather an egg on legs.

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