There was a time in my life when I was going in and out of houses that were extraordinarily different - from a working-class terrace in Northampton to the homes of friends who were really very wealthy. It was quite an odd position to be in, I realise looking back, and quite a nice one.

I was born too late for steam trains and a lazy eye meant I'd never be an astronaut.

I started writing books for children because I could illustrate them myself and because, in my innocence, I thought they'd be easier.

I think one of the things you have to learn if you're going to create believable characters is never to make generalizations about groups of people.

I want my name to mean me.

What I love about the theatre is that it's always metaphorical. It's like going back to being a kid again, and we're all pretending in a room. Sometimes, when the pretending really works, I find it much, much more moving than something on film.

I've worked in television long enough to know that when you stop enjoying that type of thing you go home and do something else.