[There] are people who make a complete and utter mockery of 'democracy' and 'equality' - they're the casualties of the primitive rules of competition which run our society, and the welfare state just keeps them alive. That's all.

There is nothing better than playing a scene with John Cleese or Maggie Smith. It's electric. But I don't think I'm the sort of person who needs to have an outer ego in order to produce something. I realised that through the travel programmes.

I think some of the best modern writing comes now from travellers.

I've never particularly liked travelling with large groups or being told where to go by somebody else. I prefer to find out for myself.

Contrary to what the politicians and religious leaders would like us to believe, the world won't be made safer by creating barriers between people.

I would love to go to Iran. The island of Madagascar, everyone says is pretty exotic, or the wonderful Namibian desert.

You can't get a suit of armour and a rubber chicken just like that. You have to plan ahead.