With something like cancer, there is a feeling that you can fight it in some way or control your response to it, but with dementia there is the fear of losing control of your mind and your life.

With all the lines I have to learn for TV scripts, I don't think I have any problems with forgetfulness - that's brain exercise enough for me.

I wish people would take more care of the countryside.

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.

I'm fascinated by politicians, because I suspect the huge majority of them go into it full of ideas and for the best possible reasons but end up being hijacked.

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