The BBC fulfils a wonderful cultural function. Maybe the problem is that it feels it needs to be everything to everybody.

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.

You can do anything you want to do, if you want to do it bad enough.

The time of solitude is actually an opportunity to make time work for you.

Nice sweater Bob, does it come in mens?

The internet is just a passing fad.

Anybody can leap off a building.

[Marco Rubio] you're a lousy businessman.

A dad stands tallest when he kneels to pray with his children.

Words strain, crack, and sometime break, under the burden.

May we give as the Savior gave. To give of oneself is a holy gift. We give as a remembrance of all the Savior has given.

No one can help you write. No one can teach you how to write.