I struggled for a while. It was feast or famine. I remember we did Quadrophenia (1979) in 1978 and that was quite good. I had a few bob after that and then I spent it. Then I was just working in the theatre and living hand to mouth. It never bothered me, though.

[on playing Wilfrid Brambell in The Curse of Steptoe (2008)] Yes, we know he liked a drink and we know he was homosexual, but he still remains a terribly, terribly private man. All I had to go on was a couple of interviews - one after Corbett (Harry H. Corbett) died - and Brambell's autobiography. Unfortunately, the book doesn't really tell you anything. Off-stage, he was a bit of a dandy. Always immaculately turned out. Overcoat, hat, cane, clean-shaven, cut-glass English accent ... he even had a different set of teeth.