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'd got over playing a character. People accepted who I was, and if I was incompetent and useless, they felt quite endeared to me.

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

I got my first lifetime achievement award years ago, and I was very excited, but then I got a sense of: Well, can one get a second lifetime award?

You don't ask people about the immigration policies of the U.K. or their country's agricultural policy. Instead, you talk to them about the meal they're eating or their family, and from that you get the sense of another human being, someone we can all relate to.

Night falls over Machu Picchu to the sound of Abba's 'Dancing Queen'.

I am not a great cook, I am not a great artist, but I love art, and I love food, so I am the perfect traveller.