What’s the weirdest animal you’ve ever ridden?
A dog. Not for practical reasons, it was a leisure pursuit. Sam the dog, my first pet. I think I was on top of him.


What kind of dog was he?
A mongrel. I would never treat a thoroughbred animal in that fashion. And there are countless rats and mice I would have stood on, onstage. Not ridden, because obviously they’re not beasts of burden, they couldn’t bear my weight. But I’ve been over it, I’ve dominated it, it’s been my subordinate.

Many rodents, insects I’ve trodden on. Thinking about it, where Dr Doolittle has spoken to the animals, I’ve subjugated the animals, and been over most of them, I’m sort of like a modern-day Tarzan.