Quotes

Ronnie Barker and I didn't have to knock booze on the head, or go into the Priory to overcome drug addiction. We're fortunate we were quite grown up, family men with children, and lucky with our wives before we had what you might call a touch of fame. We were never temperamental, fractious, or walked out slamming doors. We were fussy, though. We wanted everything doing properly.

We knew what would upset the average man in the street. Our material was good-natured. There's a lot of swearing on TV today. They even have documentaries with the f-word. You get fed up watching shows with not much care and love, reality programmes where they put people in a house for a fortnight and film them doing everything, or where participants arrive after lunch and do the programme at six. How long does it take to make They Think It's All Over (1995)? It's just laughing at each other and thinking, 'Aren't we clever?'

We live in the same world, Bercow (John Bercow) and me: not big enough to play James Bond; not small enough to be adopted by Madonna.

Miranda Hart is outstandingly funny and different in a refreshing, sparkly way. She's wordy and intelligent, yet broad and physical when she wants to be.

The definitive Eric (Eric Morecambe) and Ernie (Ernie Wise) show was a hugely popular number one and we were a close second. That was a nice time in one's life.

When I was small... well, when I was very small...

I think people feel starved of nice, glamorous entertainment. They want to see costumes and gaiety and a singer; old-fashioned entertainment - it won't die easily.

Have you ever noticed? Anybody going slower than you is an idiot, and anyone going faster than you is a maniac.