You can't converse with Alzheimer's sufferers in the way you do with others; the dialogue tends to go round in circles.

Dementia is often regarded as an embarrassing condition that should be hushed up and not spoken about. But I feel passionately that more needs to be done to raise awareness, which is why I became an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society.

People think I'm thick because of the characters I play. I think I'm brighter than the characters. Well, I hope I am.

Before my mother's diagnosis with Alzheimer's, I had heard of the disease, but hadn't known anyone who had suffered from it.

My mum Mary was always a bright, confident and fiercely independent lady.

I wish people would take more care of the countryside.

My family have been around Northumberland for five generations.