Cake baking has to be, however innocently, one of the great culinary scams: it implies effort, it implies domestic prowess; but believe me, it's easy.

Tension translates to your guests. They'll have a much better time having chili and baked potatoes than they would if you did roast duck with a wild cherry sauce and then had to lie down and cry for a while.

It s easier to impress someone than to give them pleasure.

I took a fortnight off. But I'm not a great believer in breaks. I don't want to be rattling around inside my own head. I did feel I was spiralling into a Kathy Burke character and tried going out, but I prefer it here. Filming keeps me busy. It absorbs me.

I don't wear anything in bed. But I'm not ready for a nude scene quite yet.

I need to be frightened of things. I hate it, but I must need it, because it's what I do.

Anyway, what makes people look youthful is the quality of their skin and I don't think you can change that.