WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY?
I remember sitting on Granda's knee and he offered me a puff of his pipe and I took it, and all the adults laughed. My first comedy audience I suppose.
WHICH TALENT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO HAVE?
I'd love to have the work ethic and discipline needed to write a novel, but it's a big achievement for me to even read one
WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE YOUR 18 YEAR-OLD SELF?
Lay off the self-criticism kid, it's a waste of time
WHICH PERSON DO YOU MOST ADMIRE AND WHY?
Saul Bellow, for the sheer genius of his novel writing. He's relentless.
SUM YOURSELF UP IN FOUR WORDS.
Talented, funny, dumb, happy
WHAT HAS BEEN THE HAPPIEST TIME OF YOUR LIFE?
The times when any of my three kids get good news about something. The best hit ever.
WHERE WAS YOUR MOST ENJOYABLE HOLIDAY?
A dreamy magical three weeks on the south coast of Australia with extended family
WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO BE STUCK IN A LIFT WITH?
My mum (before she died of course ). So many things I would like to talk to her about - while waiting for the fire brigade.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE FILM?
An Cailín Ciúin. I love the pace of it, and the amount of space in it. It's very understated, but the tension never wavers. Perfect cinema storytelling.
WHAT WAS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ?
‘Convenience Store Woman’ by Sayaka Murata. A very easy read but far from lightweight.
WHAT ARE YOUR THREE FAVOURITE SONGS?
Dreams, Fleetwood Mac. Late for the Sky, Jackson Browne. Amelia, Joni Mitchell
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
My two dogs Joni and Rothko- not a day goes by. Stewart Lee is in a class of his own. Limmy.
WHAT ANNOYS YOU MOST?
The sheer injustice of the world. Maybe there will be a day of reckoning, but it will be a very long day
WHAT IS YOUR WORST HABIT?
Dressing up as a nun.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION?
My awareness of the magic of being alive
HOW DO YOU RELAX OUTSIDE WORK?
I should have cut down on the relaxation and done more work really, but it's too late now
WHO WOULD BE YOUR THREE IDEAL DINNER PARTY GUESTS?
Aldous Harding, Gerard Manley Hopkins and Nikolai Gogol
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SAYING OR MOTTO?
'My aims are the aims of owls. To whit: to woo.' From genius Simon Munnery's book 'How to Live'.
