A proper family diary with everyone's events and parties in it really helps organise the household.

The first rule of management is delegation. Don't try and do everything yourself because you can't.

Whether it's cushions you only use outside in the summer, or blankets that only come out in the winter, you've always got to think of where to store them.

If you are a housewife, take pride in that.

Rearranging furniture, adding some candles, or making even small tweaks can really make the difference.

People who earn reasonable amounts are being turned into the anti-Christ. I think 45 per cent tax is a colossal amount to take off somebody, and it is taking away the incentive to earn.

Run a home like you would a small business and treat it with the same seriousness.

I grew up in a world before people had credit cards. There were no magic cards - it was all about budgeting.

It's cool to have a well run, comfortable and inviting home.

Of course, we all have to be taxed, but once you start to earn more than £150,000, and start paying 45 per cent tax, you are penalised. It is like a witch hunt.

Divorce is the biggest drain, outside of school fees, and nobody wins. People think it is always in the woman's favour, but it is not necessarily.

The real fun of life is in laughing

Good luck is a lazy man's estimate of a worker's success.

A manager doesn't hear the cheers.

I'm fortunate to be famous for two rather imposing characters like Magneto and Gandalf.

I visualize a time when we will be to robots what dogs are to humans, and I'm rooting for the machines.

The hatred of truth is the taproot of violence.

Weather is the indisputable ruler of the forest and every living thing in it.

Almost the first thing I did when I became ill was to buy a truly good television set.

I love Downton Abbey. It's just great. My mother giving birth to me was just like Lady Sybil giving birth, except that there wasn't such a tragic ending.

The world can't take these smiles away.