My life has been in reverse. It wasn't fame, and it wasn't money, but I always wanted to succeed. The only way I could do that was to try with every job to be better than I was in the last one, and to learn.

When you're young, for God's sake, get out and try everything in terms of a career. Or go abroad, meet people.

When I was a lad, my parents and all their equivalents never lusted after other people's riches or success.

We were taught fortitude by our parents, who had gone through the war. Being a child then was fun. We could go out and play in the street - there were few cars - and we felt very safe.

On 'EastEnders' everyone's bitter, angry. Where are the wonderful characters that I lived with, who could find humour even in the lowest form of living?

The ups and downs are part of what has made you.

You can't make people enjoy what you're doing unless you're enjoying it yourself.

If I want to go out to a restaurant with some friends, I'm more than happy that we go in under the radar, have a little evening on our own.

It seems to me that as soon as politicians get in, they become part of this club, and the rest of us, beneath them, are just ants running about. They become besotted with their position.

I'm an actor, and so of course I want to see TV companies making good dramas. I want that to be a priority.