We were the only black family in an estate with 1,000 white families. Liverpool being quite racist in the Sixties, it was a bit grim growing up.

There was never any career plan. When 'Red Dwarf' started I thought we were doing a curious little sitcom on BBC2, I didn't think I was becoming an actor. I didn't see that 21 years later I'd still be talking about it, let alone filming a new one. For me everything's always been an accident.

I'm busy and that's the way I like it - when I have too much downtime I get into trouble.

My life has been, I suppose, the most incredible series of highs and lows.

Within the cult of Wall Street that forged Mitt Romney, making money justifies any behavior, no matter how venal.

Getting movies made is not as difficult as people think. Making movies is easy. You get a script, you get a director, you raise the money, you make the movie.

I can't be bought with money. If someone calls me and asks me to work for them for three or four years, and they'll pay me well to build their vacation home, I ask myself why I should work three or four years on something like that.

I don't have to be making a lot of money or living in a fancy house.