“Louis Pasteur, the great scientist, said “chance favours the prepared mind”, which is a posh way of saying ‘do your homework’, but it’s an excellent piece of advice.”

I’m a natural born show off. I love performing, and at school we had a really good music scene and an even better drama scene.

When I got to university, I played in bands and did sketch stuff and it was always about coming up with material, which is why I never really practised and have no chops!!

I see the holidays as a chance for kids to learn self-sufficiency.

And to be honest, it’s all about the sound, the noise, the rattle and hum. Who wouldn’t want to make a fantastic noise with drums and cymbals?!

I think it’s really easy to forget that – I’d sooner play something musical than flash, and as I can’t play anything flash.

I try to be musical. Drums can set a mood, create an impression, as much as anything else.

My mum had a cousin that had played when he was younger.

PimpCo is a little business I’ve got, which basically offers drummers the affordable opportunity to make their drums that little bit more bespoke.

Actually, when you’re doing something you love, even when you’re busy and it’s hectic you don’t feel the need to relax.

Music is endlessly fascinating.

I never used to take holidays and it would upset ex-wives and girlfriends, but working has me in a better mood than doing nothing.

Thanks to the internet, I buy lots of music, but thanks to my easily distracted nature, I forget about half of it!

When I left uni, I carried on playing and trying out at stand-up.

All about how he developed his career and his creativity as a comedian. Lots of what he talks about is relevant to anyone in the creative arts.

I’m not an alcoholic, I am freedom fighter against the teetotal taliban.

Seriously, if you want to get inside the head of a stand-up comic, you could do a lot worse than reading Steve Martin’s Born Standing Up.

Sadness is silent, it is yours. It is coming because you are alone. It is giving you a chance to go deeper into your aloneness.

They say hard work never hurt anybody, but I figure why take the chance.

Mr. Bean had a very good chance of being successful and long-running.

I’ve heard that hard work never killed anyone, but I say why take the chance?

Let us try to teach generosity and altruism, because we are born selfish. Let us understand what our own selfish genes are up to, because we may then at least have the chance to upset their designs, something that no other species has ever aspired to do.

I’m quite old-fashioned. I like going out to dinner. You have the chance to talk to somebody and get to know them better.

The only chance women have for justice in this country is to violate the law, as I have done, and as I shall continue to do.

Studies have shown kids have a greater chance for lifelong success if they know how to read by the third grade.