With something like cancer, there is a feeling that you can fight it in some way or control your response to it, but with dementia there is the fear of losing control of your mind and your life.

Before my mother's diagnosis with Alzheimer's, I had heard of the disease, but hadn't known anyone who had suffered from it.

Being a grandparent is whole new phase in your life.

I never have liked detective dramas. I try to watch all of them to see what's going on, but I don't like them.

I wanted to be a stage actor but I got stuck on television. It took a couple of years to get used to.

I wish people would take more care of the countryside.

I'm not interested in more money for the sake of it.

I'm very good at being out of work.

I've been going to Bamburgh for holidays since I was a child.

My family have been around Northumberland for five generations.

My mum Mary was always a bright, confident and fiercely independent lady.

People think I'm thick because of the characters I play. I think I'm brighter than the characters. Well, I hope I am.

The more telly you do, the more it feels like a factory.

Walking is my main method of relaxation. I don't go over my lines or try to solve the world's problems, I just enjoy the scenery and the wildlife.

With all the lines I have to learn for TV scripts, I don't think I have any problems with forgetfulness - that's brain exercise enough for me.

With your own children, you love them immediately - and with grandchildren, it's exactly the same.

You can't converse with Alzheimer's sufferers in the way you do with others; the dialogue tends to go round in circles.

Dementia is often regarded as an embarrassing condition that should be hushed up and not spoken about. But I feel passionately that more needs to be done to raise awareness, which is why I became an ambassador for the Alzheimer's Society.

From the time you are a tiny baby, a parent's love is usually unconditional. Whatever you do, your parents think you are the tops, but when their memory goes, you stop recouping the love you've put in.

I'm fascinated by politicians, because I suspect the huge majority of them go into it full of ideas and for the best possible reasons but end up being hijacked.