How healthy are you?
Very. I've no complaints at all. Considering that I'm 60, I don't have a single ache or pain, and that has been the case throughout most of my life.

Ever spent a night in a hospital?
When I was 16 I had my appendix out. It was quite dramatic. I was collected from my boarding school in the middle of the night by ambulance. I wasn't scared at all.

What exercise do you take?
I don't take any formal exercise, and I would never go to a gym. I think they are ridiculous. When I'm at my Devon home I walk a great deal on the moors, but I do it because of the fact you can go all day without seeing another human being, not because it's exercise.

Do you worry about your weight?
Not as much as I should. I have kept off most of what I lost on Celebrity Fit Club. I wouldn't go on a formal regime like the Atkins or Cambridge diet. If I feel I'm putting on a few pounds, then I just eat more sensibly.

How do you relax?
I write novels, walk on the moors, and go out to dinner with friends.

Is sex important to you?
Not remotely.

How much sleep do you need?
I can survive on six hours, I like seven, and I worship eight. I rarely get enough because I'm too busy. I read novels, scripture, biographies or newspapers to get myself to sleep.

Attitude to smoking/alcohol/drugs?
I take it you mean unlawful drugs? Well, I've certainly never tried them, or cigarettes. I enjoy alcohol in moderation. I don't understand people who say they are going out to get drunk. It's ludicrous, especially when you feel foul the next day.

NHS or private?
Private, all the way through... GP, everything. If you can pay for healthcare you should, because the demands on the NHS can't be met.

Have you ever had therapy?
I've never needed therapy and I wouldn't waste my time with it. If I had a problem, I don't think I'd address it consciously. I don't want to sit down and say: 'I feel low today.'

How do you feel about plastic surgery?
I'm vehemently opposed to it. Trying to make yourself look better when you already look perfectly respectable is ridiculous. It's risky, and it wears off.

Are you happy?
Very. And I don't know why that is - I just am. I've been happy for most of my life. Obviously, like everyone else, I've had occasional worries and bad moments, but the underlying theme of my life has been contentment.