The 5-Minute Interview: Marcus Brigstocke, Comedian

Marcus Brigstocke, 34, appears on Radio 4's evening comedy slot and hosts 'The Late Edition' on BBC4. His latest venture, a satirical comedy series, 'News Knight', presented alongside Sir Trevor McDonald, is aired from tomorrow on ITV1.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be ...

Packing a bag. It's my grandmother's 90th birthday this weekend and we're going down there with all the family.

A phrase I use far too often is ...

If you see what I mean? I'm a waffler, so usually not only have they seen what I meant, but they've digested it, had their own thoughts and moved on.

I wish people would take more notice of ...

What is news and what really isn't. Look at Paris Hilton or Victoria Beckham as a subject. How can people read that when there are situations like Darfur going on?

The most surprising thing that happened to me was ...

Combining success and happiness. School was a disaster for me; I was expelled all the time. Now I'm a comedian, actor and writer. I have a family and a job that I love.

A common misperception of me is ...

That I say yes to everything. Recently I said no to a programme asking me to talk about losing my virginity. My mates assume that no matter who picks up the phone, I'll give it a go. I'm much more discerning than people realise.

I am not a politician but ...

I would end Britain's role in the arms trade. I don't care how many jobs or how much money it would cost. It's a filthy, filthy way to make money.

The ideal night out is ...

Actually, it starts at about 11am. I prefer lunch dos that roll on. It's a warm day, conversations rise and fall and the sun slowly goes down. Before you know it, it's 9pm and we can eat the cold leftovers for supper.

I'm good at ...

Making people laugh. It was a joy to discover that.

I'm very bad at ...

Time management. I was five minutes late for a meeting about 10 years ago and I don't think I've ever really made it up. I've slipped back ever since.

In moments of weakness I ...

Eat volumes of cheese.

You know me as a comedian but in a truer life I'd have been ...

A marine biologist. I love the sea. I quite like a lake as well, but only because it reminds me of the sea.

I swam in Lake Muskoka in Canada on Boxing Day, when we had to smash the ice with our feet. At university, I swam in the Severn estuary at Weston-super-Mare.

The best age to be is ...

Your early 30s. It's a very productive time. You can be busy at this age and tired and it won't kill you.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this ...

Don't drive 4x4s. It's not much of a philosophy, but you've got to hang on to something.

Rebecca Bowle