The truth is my dad was a lovely man who had to retire early from his job as an engineer because he had osteoporosis. It meant he was forced to wear a harness and could hardly breathe.Collection: Dad
That's basically all my act is - it's just listening all the time and watching for what people do with their hands and so on. It gets on people's nerves a bit - especially when you're at a wedding and you're scribbling on a table and they go 'stop doing that' and you go 'I can't.'Collection: Wedding
Bernard Manning is controversial but he had incredible timing. I wrote the character of Brian Potter in 'Phoenix Nights' for him to play but unfortunately he was too poorly to do it. I thought it would have been perfect casting but it didn't happen.
I find it more challenging to do something new. But I would love to do a third series of 'Phoenix Nights.'
Fatherhood has changed me - it has to change you. It makes you much more aware of the minutiae of life, it's not about your needs any more, its about everyone else's.
I believe in a God of some kind, in some sort of higher being. Personally I find it very comforting.
I believe that a man called Jesus did walk the earth at one time but I don't think he was the superhero that the Bible makes him out to be.
I keep my cuttings for when I'm back on the bins. I believe that it's not going to last. At least I will be able to say, 'I lived.'
A lot of people have got into it because of money, but true comedians do it because they can't help it, and feel slightly removed doing anything else. That were case with me.
In showbiz one minute you're up there making thousands of people laugh, next minute you're picking up toffees, you know it's real life.
I knew I could make people laugh but I was frightened of doing it. I thought, 'What if I'm crap, what if I'm no good at it?', but I knew I should have a go and shouldn't sit inside watching other people do it on television.
I'm not the sort of comedian who wants to make audiences think about politics. I'm not clever in that way.
Children don't mind when something was made - they don't discriminate in that way. I tape very early episodes of 'Rainbow' and 'Trumpton' for my son and watch them with him. He loves them. 'Trumpton' was made in 1967, but he still watches it like it's brand new.
I never thought I'd write one book, let alone three. I'm absolutely delighted and every night, thank the good lord for spell check.
The Lily Foundation is an inspiring charity that helps to improve the lives of children with Mitochondrial Disease. I've had first-hand experience of the Foundation's work and I'm proud to raise both awareness and much needed funds to help with the inspiring work they provide to children and their families.
I love 'Phoenix Nights' and I would love to go back. I've got a lot of ideas about 'Phoenix Nights.'
If you're struggling and you just get a sense when you're writing that you might be running out of ideas, that's when I think you should walk away.
A lot of series tend to go on for one series too many, especially with comedies, and I think people say 'ooh, it's gone off, that.'
I've met so many older actors and comedians who've told me they wished they'd spent as much time with their kids as they did chasing the money. You've got to draw a line but it's a gamble.
The one thing we pride ourselves on the most with writing 'Car Share' is that it's hard to predict what's going to happen and that's hard to achieve, especially with comedy.
What a joy to be working on the second series of 'Car Share' with the wonderful Sian Gibson. The success of the first series has been completely overwhelming.
I'm always freaking people out because I'll be out somewhere and I'll hear someone say something and then later on I'll say it again word for word. It's almost like recording it in your head.
I don't do that much telly because I want quality, not quantity - you've got to be happy with what you're putting out.
I could probably make another series of 'Phoenix Nights' or 'Max And Paddy,' but that would just feel like a safe bet.
I loved making it but when I saw it, I thought, 'Oh my God. I'm a big green lizard running around Cardiff? Is that it?' It's nice to have been in 'Doctor Who' but that is regarded by fans as the worst episode ever.
If I am popular across the board, from teenagers to pensioners, it's not because I'm trying to be family-orientated, it's because my mum vets all my shows! I always get a critique from her and she's very harsh.
Sometimes people say, 'Oh I'm surprised you'd be in Staples buying a plastic box, I thought you'd have a servant to do that for you.' I'm like, 'What are you talking about? I still go to Tesco, I still do my big shop.'
Do I miss him? Of course I do. Every day. His death was devastating, he was just 51. But you know, in my stand-up my Dad will always be alive. He's so much part of my act.
None of my family had been entertainers. My Grandad liked to play 'The Ballad of Davy Crockett' on the comb and tissue paper every now and again but we never had Hughie Green knocking on the front door.