My mother was born on a tiny farm in County Mayo. She was meant to stay at home and look after the farm while her brother and sister got an education. However, she came to England on a visit and never went back.

Debate is so much better than denial.

I wanted above all else not to be like my mum.

I went through bits of the 60s and thought myself a bit of a hippy.

I was feeling very irritable. It was that difficult time of the month when the credit card statement arrives.

I'm too young at 50. I'm not grown up yet. There's part of everybody like that.

There were people asking 'Can women be funny?' People still ask that. It's like asking: 'Can women breathe in and out?'