My friendship with the great actor and director Alan Rickman did not have a particularly auspicious start.
Hell is being stuck in a lift with Elton John and the Queen Mother.
I'm the most unromantic lump of Northern suet. Yes, a woman did accost me once in South Shields, but she had a face like Red Rum.
To come across a Master and to miss the Master is the greatest accident, very unfortunate, that can happen to a man.
I've been asked about this constantly, and I compare it to how if you're walking down the street and some schizo guy comes up to you and vomits on you: You wouldn't be hurt by that, you'd just think it's weird.
There have been loads of times I have regretted meeting Paul because I was so happy in my old life.
My most disastrous date was not so much a disaster as uncomfortable for both parties involved.
I go to the gym in a baseball cap, sweats and then run into a boy I like. It happens - so what?
