Alexander Armstrong

“Why should your background be held against you? It is so short-sighted.”

“I would slap a tax on plastic to encourage people to use more biodegradable things. I would also like teachers, vicars and other community workers to be paid as much as lawyers.”

“What I loved about Radio 3 back in the olden days, when it didn't give a toss about the youth, were the silences - socking great caesuras just left blank for quiet reflection.”

“In the olden days you cut your teeth on the northern club circuit. I've cut mine on the southern black-tie circuit.”

“My dad's a doctor. So when we were little, at our family Christmases, we'd always have a couple of his elderly patients over for lunch.”

“It makes me cross that no one takes great pride in doing a good job. It's so rare to find someone who really loves their trade.”

“I was going to say that Mark Gattis is an unsung TV hero - but he's beginning to be sung like he should be.”

“I have never actually abandoned singing. I have sung at lots of friends' weddings and family events to keep up my classical repertoire, and I get together with a music teacher every few months.”

“I love doing children's TV. You get such extraordinarily positive feedback from your audience too.”

“I've come to love 'This Country' on BBC Three. It takes a while to get into the swing of it because the humour is very subtle, but it's very beautifully done and there are quite a few guffaws to be had.”

“I've got four boys and villas are not astronomically expensive, especially if you share with another family.”

“For years we've had all the big-hitting HBO box-set dramas, all these brilliant, witty, clever shows, and in return the only thing we've had to offer is big period dramas like 'Downton Abbey'.”