I think the deafness affects me more than I realise I think it makes me more tired. I loathe parties. I attend, smile and leave.

I'm the one by the backdoor - I am not the one in the middle of the party.

I took some classes in sign language when I was in my early teens because I was told that I would be completely deaf very early. But I never really wanted to learn.

My worst holiday was in Athens when I was a young drama student at Rada in 1965. I ran out of money. I had my things stolen and I wasn't able to speak a word of the language.

But as far as my work is concerned, I see no impediment, and various advantages, to being deaf.

I genuinely enjoy talking one-to-one. I have no shyness about that.

People keep asking me if I'll marry again. It's as if after you've had one car crash you want another.