I spent more time in America, but I developed a very English sense of humour. I clicked into it deeply with Peter Sellers, who is still probably my favourite comedian. I loved The Goons and then I got into "Beyond the Fringe" and by accident I met Jonatha...
On being banned (as a hereditary peer) from the House of Lords: There`s no question that the old system was unfair. I mean, why should you be born to this? But now it`s all just sheer cronyism. The Prime Minister can put in whoever he wants and bus them i...
It`s real acting, in a sense. You`re reacting spontaneously to things you`ve never heard before. You can either do it or not, and if you`re with a bunch of people who can, there`s nothing more fun. - on improvised acting.
I liked directing The Big Picture (1989). I was happy with it, but I remembered working on "Spinal Tap" and what a joy it was to make and how much we made each other laugh.
I don`t work with high-concept things that start with a premise, "Wouldn`t it be funny if there was this spy who met a ..." For me, it could be, "What about people who sell shoes? That must be a bizarre world ... when they meet at conventions and talk abo...