When I Turned About 12 Or 13,

I Remember Being Fascinated By The Very Nature Of Comedy From The Age Of 10; Why Is This Funny, And That Isn't?

In 1987, I Was In Edinburgh Doing My First One-man Show. I Took Part In A Kickabout With Some Fellow Comedians And Tripped Over My Trousers And Heard This Cracking Sound In My Leg. A Couple Of Days Later I Went Into A Coma And Was Diagnosed With A Pulmonary Embolism.

It Was A Bizarre Existence I Led In My Early Twenties - That Cliche Of The Comedian Who Goes Out And Entertains A Roomful Of People And Then Goes Home To A Lonely Bedsit Was Unbelievably Poignant For Me Because That Was Exactly What I Was Doing. I Had Periods Of Real Loneliness.

Am I Allowed To Call Myself Working-class Now? Because Obviously I'm Now Very Rich.

I Think Having An Outsider's Viewpoint Is Interesting And Good, Especially For A Comedian.