The test of leadership for David Cameron was actually to bring the British Conservative Party back in to the mainstream.

Imagine someone holding forth on biology whose only knowledge of the subject is 'The Book of British Birds ' and you have a rough idea of what it feels like to read Richard Dawkins on theology.

The skills of the British intelligence community are a great national asset.

The 'Robben Island Bible' has arrived at the British Museum. It's a garish thing its cover plastered with pink and gold Hindu images designed to hide its contents. Within is the finest collection of words generated by human intelligence: the complete works of William Shakespeare.

I've always wanted to be a spy and frankly I'm a little surprised that British intelligence has never approached me.

I guess something that I've noticed from American acts who had success in touring is more of an explanation as to their music. Which is I think quite funny. I think British acts might like to leave more to the imagination - maybe a bit more obscure perhaps - a bit more shy.

I really wouldn't want to live in America. I found New York claustrophobic and dirty. I missed England when I was there simple things like smells and the British sense of humor.

I think at its best the American sense of humor is the same as the British sense of humor at its best which is to be wry and ironic and self deprecating.

I mean yeah I'm sure that Python and the other things have paved the way for a greater understanding of the British sense of humor but I don't think it's all that different than the American sense of humor.

Sometimes Americans don't quite get my sense of humor. My good ol' British sarcasm seems to go over their heads.