- He signed a seven-year deal for The Golden Girls (1985) spin-off show The Golden Palace (1992), but lasted two weeks. "Those old ladies are horrible", he said.
- The title of his autobiography, "Stalin Ate My Homework", is a reference to the fact that his parents were communists.
- In February 1984, he reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart with the novelty song "'Ullo John! Gotta New Motor?".
- He is a critic of fox hunting and was among more than 20 high-profile people who signed a letter to Members of Parliament in 2015 to oppose Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron's plan to amend the Hunting Act 2004.
- He is a keen cyclist.
- In 1995, he was awarded an Honorary Professorship, Thames Valley University.
- He was a regular columnist for the influential British automobile magazine "Car".
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