And like the old stereotype, I overcame my shyness by making my friends laugh.

In 1987, I was in Edinburgh doing my first one-man show. I took part in a kickabout with some fellow comedians and tripped over my trousers and heard this cracking sound in my leg. A couple of days later I went into a coma and was diagnosed with a pulmonary embolism.

I looked at longevity in show business when I was about 13, and the people who seemed to have longevity were the ones who'd spent quite a bit of time learning about what they were doing before they made it.

I'll never forget my first experience of swede. It was at school and I thought I was getting mashed potato. I've never got over it.

I really don't take any interest at all in contemporary comedy.

All disc jockeys are without talent. Noel Edmonds - I can't stand Noel Edmonds.

I don't always vote in general elections, but I think I've always voted Labour.