Armando Iannucci is one of my heroes. As I was growing up, he was probably the most influential comic voice that I had.

The disconnect between America and its military is shocking.

I've said yes to everything that Jon Stewart has asked me to do. That's been a pretty good career decision, I think.

Most stand-ups, once they have done it, think of it as their default job. I'm pretty sure Jon Stewart still feels that way now. You are a stand-up first; other things come and go.

We have to get the tax revenues up. That means we have to get back to a healthy American economy, grow the economy so that you make more money. I make more money, ordinary Americans make more money, and so does the government. That helps lessen the deficit.

My view is the less the government can do and the more freedom and opportunity you give people, that trusting people and free people and free enterprise - that America has built the greatest country in the history of the world.

Democracy is but an experiment in the long history of the world.

People will meet me and say, 'You're not really a Tory.' And I'll say I've been a Tory all my life - my politics have hardly changed. It is about making a society that is just and kinder to people.