I'm a class mongrel.

As the 20th century unspooled, a cultural warming melted down many frozen class characteristics.

I'm not a fan of the working class being mocked, including by some of our famous writers - even those who came from it.

The class barricades have been stormed by the forces of a broad culture, which is made up of clusters of individuals who have decided for themselves what they will be in society.

The arts stimulate imagination. They provoke thought. And then, having done that, all sorts of other things happen.

Now, perfectly ordinary people will give each other hugs. I mean, it used to be that a hug was reserved for if you came back from Australia - you know, back in the '40s and '50s.