I watch films. I play the guitar: me and some mates - I wouldnt dignify it with the term band - get together and play.

My childhood was very gregarious, and I was usually surrounded by close family.

I dont like to watch myself on screen because in my mind there is a touch of George Clooney about me, but when I see it, there is more than a little Donkey from Shrek about me.

I had an inspirational teacher at my junior school: Peter Nixon. He was enthusiastic, knowledgeable and slightly scary - a good combination for a teacher.

Theres always an anxiety about playing literary characters because one of the great joys of reading books is that you can create your own vision of things.

I enter myself in races. I did a triathlon, and I have done a marathon a couple of times.

I'm a massive sucker for music documentaries.

I didnt know any actors growing up. My dad was a builder, and we didnt know any arty types.

Comedy is a very personal thing, and some people will find it funny, some people wont.

I am a passionate believer that comedy is a way of tackling some of the most dark and difficult aspects of being a human being.

Dad was a strict disciplinarian and would give us a wallop with a wooden spoon if we were out of order. But we really respected him - he didn't try to be our best friend.

The compassion of the oppressed for the oppressed is indispensable. It is the world's one hope.

He can't make me love him when he's going to leave me.

Musical comedies aren't written they are re-written.

Finance, like time, devours its own children.

Women do not have as great a need for poetry because their own essence is poetry.

I would like to be judged on the validity of my arguments, not as a victim.

Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.

I honestly feel that because Steve has passed, you know, it's like when Biggie passed and Jay-Z was allowed to become Jay-Z.

I was always listening to my father more than anyone. I was always afraid of my father more than anyone. But there's a moment in time where other men in your life can have a huge impact.

As an economist, whenever I hear the word shortage I wait for the other shoe to drop. That other shoe is usually price control.