My parents are very hard working people who did everything they could for their children. I have two brothers and they worked dog hard to give us an education and provide us with the most comfortable life possible. My dad provided for his family daily. So, yes, that is definitely in my DNA.

I suppose that I just grew up knowing, in a very vivid way, that if it hadn't been for the men who fought in the Second World War, we'd all be living in a very different world now.

Ronnie Barker was a man whom I thought more deserving of a knighthood than me.

I hadn't been to drama school. I hadn't been to university and acted there. I had no qualifications behind me.

I wouldn't like to get trapped in a long series.

We seem to have lost our British sense of humour. It's a great shame. We have to be so careful nowadays; we have lost a lot of humour because people are too frightened of getting too near touchy subjects.

I don't think I would ever have taken on professional acting roles if I hadn't had the ability to fly. I had quite low self-esteem, and it gave me the self-confidence to believe I could do anything that I put my mind to.

I am thrilled to be taking part in 'Hogfather.' I am a huge fan of Terry Pratchett's books, and to play the part of Albert is going to be great fun.

It has taken a lot of persuasion for me to take part in an official documentary about 'Only Fools and Horses.' But, as time has gone on, it seems to have been imprinted in television history, and I thought it was only right that I tried to give an accurate insight into how the show was put together.

I'm really excited to be bringing back 'Open All Hours.' I am sure there is an audience out there who would like to see what Granville has been getting up to in the corner shop.

I go with my wife Gill to the supermarket, but not often.

One of the reasons that I needed to become an actor was that I didn't have any self-confidence.

My desperation to be on the stage and perform was like a vocation, a religious calling.

I'm happier being out of the limelight, at home with the family.

I won't let my daughter watch 'EastEnders.'

Despite offers, I have never felt the urge to try to make it in Hollywood.

All my work's been disguise, really: hiding behind the character.

While I've got my health and fitness, I'm available... except for panto, of course. Too bloody much like hard work.

I always wanted to fly. When I was in theatre, I used to go up on Dunstable Downs on my day off to watch the gliders, to get away from it all.

I do recognise I have a responsibility to the audience. They feel fairly confident that if I'm in something, they can sit down with their family and be entertained by it. I don't desperately want to change that.

I rarely go out, and I am not interested in golf or anything like that.

Good parts just don't fall off trees. I try to be very careful about what sort of projects I attack. There's an audience out there that expects high standards from me.

I don't watch 'The X Factor' any more. Why do I want to see someone say the same old thing - it's all they've ever dreamed about - then lose and burst into tears and go into neurosis? They just want to be famous - it doesn't matter how.

When you see the kids on 'Britain's Got Talent' or 'The X Factor' who just want to be famous at all costs, you just go, 'God, these people just don't know what it is they're asking for.'