I'm not particularly fond of the past, but I do ramble on about it quite a bit.
I never have liked detective dramas. I try to watch all of them to see what's going on, but I don't like them.
The more telly you do, the more it feels like a factory.
My mum Mary was always a bright, confident and fiercely independent lady.
You can't converse with Alzheimer's sufferers in the way you do with others; the dialogue tends to go round in circles.
People think I'm thick because of the characters I play. I think I'm brighter than the characters. Well, I hope I am.
I'm fascinated by politicians, because I suspect the huge majority of them go into it full of ideas and for the best possible reasons but end up being hijacked.
I'm not interested in more money for the sake of it.
I've been going to Bamburgh for holidays since I was a child.
Before my mother's diagnosis with Alzheimer's, I had heard of the disease, but hadn't known anyone who had suffered from it.
With all the lines I have to learn for TV scripts, I don't think I have any problems with forgetfulness - that's brain exercise enough for me.
My family have been around Northumberland for five generations.
I'm very good at being out of work.
It always staggers me when series don't use their sidekicks.
I'm not very relaxed; I always need to be doing something.
I still remember going to a smart restaurant in Los Angeles, and the maitre d' knew my name and showed me straight to a table even though we hadn't booked. I get stopped for autographs by people from Sweden on the tops of mountains.
Oxford has a slightly mythical rep, particularly for people who haven't been there.
You're very aware in the theater by the response you get, but not so much on television, obviously.
People are very appreciative, and I'm always thrilled at how long the 'Morse' films have lasted. They seem to have an afterlife that goes on and on for decades, which is touching.
I only really like to watch things like 'Time Team.' I'd rather be out walking the dog. It's all reality TV, which, as an actor, I detest.
