Celebrity square meals: Mark Gatiss's Pukka Pineapple with Bashed-up Mint Sugar

I recently played Fanny Cradock's long-suffering husband Johnnie in the BBC4 drama Fear of Fanny, which I found was a really interesting insight into the world of cookery. Personally, though, I prefer simple modern dishes, such as this Jamie Oliver classic. It's refreshing and nutritious, and I love the collision of delicious flavours. It's also very easy and simple to prepare - perfect for people who can't cook.

Serves 4

1 ripe pineapple
4 heaped tbsp sugar
1 handful fresh mint
Plain yoghurt, to serve

Buy yourself a pineapple that smells fresh, with leaves that can easily be removed. Cut both ends off and peel the skin with a knife, removing any black bits.

Cut the pineapple into quarters and remove the slightly less tasty core. Finely slice quarters lengthways, as thin as possible. Lay out flat in one or two layers on a large plate. (Don't refrigerate.)

After dinner, take the plate to the table with a bowl of yoghurt. Put the sugar in a pestle and mortar and add mint leaves. Bash the hell out of it until you see the colour of the sugar change.

If desired, drizzle the yoghurt over the plate of pineapple, then sprinkle the mint sugar over the top.

'The Devil in Amber', Mark Gatiss's sequel to 'The Vesuvius Club', is published by Simon & Schuster, £15