In fact I am quite snappy and irritable, and I don't know if I'd like to make myself worse in that respect.

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.

Cooking is actually quite aggressive and controlling and sometimes, yes, there is an element of force-feeding going on.

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.

I was brought up an atheist and have always remained so. But at no time was I led to believe that morality was unimportant or that good and bad did not exist. I believe passionately in the need to distinguish between right and wrong and am somewhat confounded by being told I need God, Jesus or a clergyman to help me to do so.

Good olive oil, good butter, milk - they give food taste and depth and a richness that you cant reproduce with low-fat ingredients.