Everything is results. We even have shows with people judging results. Is there anything on TV that isn't four people on a panel? But what can you say when 20 million watch?

The programme [Doctor Who (2005)] is great, but it was created for children in 1963. One doesn't need to say more. They spend a lot of money on Top Gear (2002) as well. I'm not saying that everything popular is bad, but it's desperate when nothing can exist unless it achieves financial rewards.

[on the end of Waking the Dead (2000)] We were going to finish after 10 [seasons], but we stopped after nine because the BBC doesn't really have the money to make it. I mean, they could make it if we changed how it's done at the moment, but I don't want that. I can't see the point of suddenly delivering a show that's a different kind of programme, just to cut costs. The BBC can go and make other stuff that costs them less money; it's fine.

[on Waking the Dead (2000)] I've loved it. It's been a bit of a battle at times because we've always wanted to maintain standards. We've done a total of 92 hours of television and more than 650 actors have worked on the show, so that's a lot of scripts! It's had an audience appreciation rating of 90 per cent, which I think is higher than anything else.