I've lost count of the times I've been asked to 'be' Malcolm Tucker: to go on a political program on television, presumably in order to be the character and give opinions as him.

One of the problems with episodic television of any color is that everything has got to be okay at the end of the episode so it can start again next week.

I've always been interested in the idea of people who fell through the cracks.

When I began my political career, I identified with Malcolm X.

Even though I am a lifelong 'Doctor Who' fan, I've not played him since I was nine. I downloaded old scripts and practised those in front of the mirror.

I don't think I would have been great in the 17th century. I would have enjoyed the frocks, and certainly some of the food would have been appealing, but the disease and hygiene would have worried me.