I sense a kind of fear of writing black or Asian characters from non-ethnic writers, who perhaps feel that they don't know the culture and therefore can't write about it. By and large, if there's an Asian character, I might get a call. But if the character is called 'Philip,' the chances are I won't.

I make terrible jokes every time I go into a hospital. I think it's a defence mechanism.

Good drama, challenging drama - and comedy for that matter - has a place in the daytime schedule.

On a radio drama I'd like to feel that I had just as much chance of playing Mr Darcy as anyone else because I can sound like him, yet many radio producers find it very difficult to extend their imaginations to employing anyone who's non white.

The worst moment in my life was when I was seven years old and I discovered that there was a thing such as racism. You don't know you're different until someone lets you know.

Michael Bates was a very funny actor; he'd served in India, could speak Urdu, and had great comic timing.

It is better to give blood but receive cash than the other way around.