Ben Miller

I'm always a bit wary when people say in interviews, 'I'm at the happiest place of my life that I've ever been.' I think, 'Really? Are you?' Life is a mix, isn't it? ”

I'd probably be one of these terribly over-protective parents whose children become a neurotic wreck because they've never been exposed to real life. ”

My success at living a moral life is pretty terrible, but I still aspire to do it! I identify with the Johnny Cash thing that trying to live a good life and be a good person are not necessarily the same thing! ”

My father was always clowning around. It was a huge influence on me. In my family, everything is turned into a joke. ”

I live a pretty sedentary life, usually. I'm not an action man at all. ”

Science is a hobby, and I'm really into it, but it's not my job. My job is to learn about comedy and to make people laugh. Science, for me, is probably a bit like Danny Baker's love of football or Rod Stewart's obsession with train sets. ”

Comedy is my proper job. It's what I should be doing, and when I do other bits like my science series, I miss it. ”

I don't think you get a lot of comedians who are homeopaths. Comedy is essentially about not being hoodwinked. ”

I love the basic comedy of growing a moustache. ”

I used to go badger-watching as a boy, and it's brilliant fun - they're incredibly active animals, and the cubs are very funny to watch. ”