We had millions of viewers for Bread (1986), but the BBC won't even consider Carla Lane's scripts now. They don't want to know about her style of writing any more, and that's depressing because they were wonderful scripts - so witty!
Ricky Gervais killed off sitcom because he made people believe it was about a stand-up comedian working it for himself. Comedy was at its peak with Bread (1986), Keeping Up Appearances (1990) and One Foot in the Grave (1990). That was a magical period but then it disappeared, which is really sad. Situation comedy isn't about stand-up; it's about stories, families and what's behind the house curtains.
The thing about being an actor is not to act. You have to observe and become your character - acting is all about reacting.
You have to do the scenes three or four times and there was a lot of shouting and crying, which you have to be able to repeat at absolutely the same level. It's great fun but also very tiring. (On appearing in Casualty (1986) in 2012)