I have a utilitarian approach to dressing; as long as I quite like it and it covers me up, I don't care what it is.

There are lots of people who believe that caricature of me the tabloids created, so they think they don't like me.

We women continue to swallow this line that it's unladylike or even proof of being a lesbian if you wear flat shoes like Doc Martens. I'm prepared to put up with that accusation, because at least my feet aren't killing me and I don't look like a bandy ostrich.

I think it's difficult, if you're a quite private person like I am, to write about your life very intimately.

I like reading, I like boring things, and yet I think people for ages had this image of me that I was on the tube with a chainsaw looking for any likely candidate.

It's got too much hard work slapping them and telling them to shut up.