I’m surrounded by 60 people that are doing smart things all the time. They probably don’t realize it but I’m learning constantly from every single one of them.

Ultimately, it’s a man who was teaching us English Literature in what we call matricula, the last 2 years of high school. He really was quite extraordinary. When he spoke of a Shakespearean play, you almost thought that he grew up with Shakespeare! He was very good, yes. A black guy who was fantastic and gave us a deep love for literature.

Ultimately, my research was curiosity driven, which kept me active even in low periods.

Wonder Why would say, 'Why is the sky blue?'…Then Wonder Why would tell you. I was fascinated, because I wanted to know how things worked ... that was my introduction to science.

Having a family can be a rude awakening for some people but it wasn't like that for me. I've absolutely loved it and I still do. I've got two daughters, Polly and Camilla, in their late 20s now. You get these people who say, "Wait for the terrible twos," and, yes, they've had the odd flounce, but they've got increasingly joyful to be around. My wife Alice and I are very close to them and value their company hugely.

I'm a cryer. The family has a competition to see who can get me going at Christmas. The last time I blubbed was on my birthday, when my daughter gave me a framed photo of my 15-month-old grandson Hugo, but I have been known to shed a tear at The Railway Children or Pretty Woman.

My old French teacher Madame Hawksworth stopped me in Ikley car park and said, 'We never thought you'd amount to much.'

I get up at 7am. No radio. No telly. Quiet. I feed the chickens and the cat. Cup of tea. Read the paper. On my own - half an hour just to come round.

I aspire to Jane Austen's precision and observation, but I'm nowhere near.

That I have lost both my parents.