Ideal Dinner Guests: Billy Connolly, the McIlvanney brothers, Plato, Alan Coren, Harvey Weinstein - you have to be able to ask him questions, don’t you? - and a 22 year-old Brigitte Bardot.

Favourite Film. One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. An unusual example of a terrific book being turned into an even better film.

Favourite Holiday Resort: New Zealand’s South Island, which is like Scotland only more magnificent, with mountains three times higher.

Best Advice Received: Never give up, which came from John, who has always been an incredible inspiration.

Worst Advice: Always respect your betters, which came from my ex-headmaster. And I still don’t know who my betters are.

Advice to 16 Year-old Self: Do some studying at school instead of busking it.

Career High: Picking up an Upper Second degree from the University of London, after being told I was unfit for uni. That really was a lovely moment.

Career Low: Being asked to leave half way through my Scottish College of Commerce course in 1965, due to lack of attendance. This was an interesting part in my life. I had discovered alcohol and women at this point. But I worked for a year and went back to finish, so it all turned out right in the end.