I used to do stuff at college. I could do voices. I could make some people laugh. I wasn't the class clown, but I knew I had this skill.

A lot of people can be very scared about making themselves vulnerable and appearing uncool. I don't really give a damn; as long as it's funny, I'll do it [make fun of myself].

If you do something very successful, you will then be defined by it.

Big comedy is good, I like things that are big, but good comedy has to be truthful I think and has to reflect some sort of reality.

People come up to me in supermarkets and demand humour. And the less amusing I am, the more they piss themselves. So I say, "I'm doing my shopping, mate, OK?" and the guy will be on the floor in hysterics. Quite odd. Eventually I do have to say something funny so I usually go for something pathetic like, "It's a nice place to shop but I wouldn't like to live here!" and they roar again. Wet themselves. I'm lucky though that I am not massively famous, I can get the Tube without much bother. Must be awful being the Beckhams.

I think there's as much profundity and wisdom in Shakespeare, more so in fact, than those in the Bible.

What terrifies me is that I might somehow endorse that view so people think they don't have to read books anymore.