What’s the most impressive thing you’ve ever made?
A four-legged stool that’s still in service 25 years later.
Who is most likely to change a lightbulb in your house?
Me. I’m fairly useful around the house. My dad was a builder and I was always roped in to help out. I could become a handyman if the acting work ever dried up.
What is your DIY dirty secret?
I have a bike shed in our front garden that needs a concrete footing. Soon, bike shed, soon.
When do you call in the professionals?
When I don’t have the time. Which is all of the time.
Where do your tools live?
In my man toolbox and scattered through the house.
What’s your favourite bit of kit?
My huge drill.
Flat pack or ready built?
Ready built. Who enjoys flat pack assembling? It’s unpaid drudgery.
What was your biggest DIY disaster?
Standing on a chair with wheels to apply mastic to the ceiling … BANG!
Bin it or mend it?
There’s great pleasure to be had in fixing things but I rarely get around to it.
Interview by Rosanna Greenstreet
Episodes returns to BBC2 in May
