Plan for each episode to be a satisfying experience, but still leave the audience thinking, 'Oh, my God! Now what?

Be careful about the advice you give, especially to your children.

I was getting rewarded for writing well, from about the age of five or six. A teacher would say, "Look what Andrew has written," and I thought, "Maybe I could be a writer."

People like bonnets. I don't think you can under-estimate that.

I used to have this Mercedes, a dark blue 450SLC, which was the most beautiful car. I'd like to have another unusual, beautiful car.

When you see two writers named on a movie, one of them did some drafts and got the boot.

Novels often have leisurely openings; a TV drama needs an arresting opening.

I prefer love scenes to be shot up close with a lot of focus on eyes and mouths. Otherwise it can feel uncomfortable and voyeuristic.

As a fairly innocent teenager, growing up in a village in Wales, I just thought, "God, I would like to go and hang about Soho and write great poetry and try to avoid drinking myself to death."

I'm absolutely delighted if people think of me as a reliable purveyor of quality period stuff.

I suppose I have the tastes of someone who teaches at a university in the provinces.

Fear is the lack of faith in one's ability to create powerful solutions.

People say things are going to be Hell without even the slightest notion of what Hell is.

I begin with the principle that all men are bores. Surely no one will prove himself so great a bore as to contradict me in this.

My page is junk, because I hate putting anything to do with me on the site, it just feels wrong.

The most irascible person is most likely to become apathetic in dangerous situations.

I want to go down as a winner.

And I certainly won't lay out areas of my life that I think are just private.

He who regards many things easy will find many difficulties. Therefore the sage regards things difficult, and consequently never has difficulties.

Large increases in cost with questionable increases in performance can be tolerated only in race horses and fancy women.

Success is only meaningful - and enjoyable - if it feels like your own.