What makes this story so remarkable is that throughout my early childhood I had ongoing learning difficulties particularly in mathematics. I struggled to learn the multiplication table and no matter how hard I tried I simply couldn't remember 6 times 7 or 7 times 8.

But the mechanics of learning to 'throw your voice' are pretty simple. Anyone with a tongue an upper palate teeth and a normal speaking voice can learn ventriloquism.

The experience of learning how to get straight to the core of a problem proved to be of immense value later when I had a long succession of responsibilities in large complex government departments.

I spent a lot of years just learning my craft and falling down in front of the camera.

Writing is learning to say nothing more cleverly each day.

I had been here five years already training very hard learning about the systems the shuttle the station systems. But everything really became real when I started to work with them.

I was delighted to have lines when they came - learning lines for film isn't a problem but television is a little different because we shot those shows the whole way through.

Learning about all those different things psychologically - about grief and my own addictions and problems and stuff like that and really getting an education on it I think it was part of the process of it learning about it and trying to lick it.

I didn't have a regular school experience and wanted a more abstract way of learning. I started exploring in lots of different creative ways. It gave me the opportunity to travel and play music so it was good for me.

I'm learning with the older that I get that some feelings are just universal and that I'm not the only one who hates their hair or their life at times.