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].

The tabloids operate in an amoral parallel universe where the bottom line is selling newspapers.

But with comedy it's a simple premise. If it's funny, people laugh. If it's not, they don't.

If the person who can effectively sanction ill-conceived wars can play the electric guitar, which is a symbol of rebellion, then that whole worldview becomes confused.

As soon as I see period costume, I turn off. It's like hearing drama on Radio 4.

When I play myself, I want to be a slightly better person. It just agrees. Everything I play about myself is kind of true, but it's amplified. We all edit, don't we? If you're self-aware, you stop yourself - you know how to behave properly.

I happen to have a public profile. Ditto newspaper editors. It's a result of what I do, not an end.