Britain's a terribly negative place. And it hammers people down and it pulls you back and it prevents you. Also, with the issue of immigration, it's very difficult because although I don't have anything against people from other countries, the higher the influx into England the more the British identity disappears.

Most people have nothing to say. And most people give you the same answers every time you talk to them.

I do think it's actually possible to go through life and never fall in love or find someone who loves you.

In 1970s Coronation Street, if we must discuss it, the inhabitants were all aspiring to gentility. Now everybody is thrilled to be as common as muck and everyb…