Jeremy Clarkson is rather charming, but I can't stomach his public persona. I don't like his casual racism and casual misogyny.

My preference is swimming in the sea. I find the sea is more liberating, wild and good fun rather than plodding up and down a pool.

There are lots of people who believe that caricature of me the tabloids created, so they think they don't like me.

I have a utilitarian approach to dressing; as long as I quite like it and it covers me up, I don't care what it is.

I like to read my diary occasionally to remind myself what a miserable, alienated old sod I used to be.

The problem with comedy audiences - it's like the Coliseum - when they see someone struggling, they don't feel altruistic towards them. They feel slightly repulsed by it.