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.

I remain, however, fairly optimistic for the future of period drama because it's just such a popular thing.

The Magician makes the visible, invisible.The Scientist makes the invisible, visible.The Artist stands in between, indivisible.

The problem in most situations is not a lack of calling but a fear of responding to the call.

Passion is a key to unlimited success. Without it, we wither and die. It drives our hearts, our minds and our souls to achieve the best possible results.

Don't Panic

What the world really needs is courageous parenting from mothers and fathers who are not afraid to speak up and take a stand.

In terms of fear, I still am most afraid of Freddie Kruger.

I have to say I do read partly for escapism. Why can't I escape and learn something?

I don't see a difference between the big screen and the small one. We are entertainers, and the medium doesn't matter.

Hee goes not out of his way, that goes to a good Inne.

The networks have a particular agenda, a particular model and structure. It doesn't have anything to do with content. This is not a dis on them - they are a business model, run by business people.