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.

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 never have liked detective dramas. I try to watch all of them to see what’s going on, but I don’t like them.

I’ve been going to Bamburgh for holidays since I was a child.

I’m not interested in more money for the sake of it.

I’m very good at being out of work.

People think I’m thick because of the characters I play. I think I’m brighter than the characters. Well, I hope I am.

You can’t converse with Alzheimer’s sufferers in the way you do with others; the dialogue tends to go round in circles.

From the time you are a tiny baby, a parent’s love is usually unconditional. Whatever you do, your parents think you are the tops, but when their memory goes, you stop recouping the love you’ve put in.

Before my mother’s diagnosis with Alzheimer’s, I had heard of the disease, but hadn’t known anyone who had suffered from it.