- Along with Rowan Atkinson and Tim McInnerny, he is one of only three actors to appear in all four "Blackadder" series: Blackadder (1982), Blackadder II (1986), Blackadder the Third (1987) and Blackadder Goes Forth (1989).
- Has written 17 children's books, most recently one on Kings and Queens.
- He was consultant on children's programming for the London Symphony Orchestra from 1998 to 2000.
- He was created a Knight Bachelor in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours List for public and political service.
- In 2000, he was awarded an honorary Masters of Arts degree from Bristol University for his services to theatre and archaeology.
- Allergic to red wine, cats and feathers.
- Lives just outside of Bristol, England and supports Bristol City Football Club.
- He has one son and one daughter.
- He was Vice President of Equity, the British Actors Union, from 1996 to 2000.
- Was a friend of the late Terry Pratchett and narrated the audio versions of many of his Discworld and non-Discworld novels, voice acted for the computer game Discworld (1995), acted in Hogfather (2006), delivered Pratchett's televised lecture on assisted dying - Shaking Hands with Death (2010), gave news and documentary interviews about Pratchett and the Discworld books, including for Terry Pratchett: Back in Black (2017) and participated in a public memorial for Pratchett held the year after his death at the Barbican Theatre in London.
- He is an active member of Oxfam and Comic Relief.
- Was a member of the Labour Party National Executive Committee and Labour Party Joint Policy Committee, 2000-2004.
- Has appeared on the British political debate programme, Question Time (1979), as a member of the Labour party.
- His favorite songs are "I Can Help" by Billy Swan, "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis, "Chasing Cars" by Snow Patrol, "Beautiful" by Christina Aguilera, "Unfinished Sympathy" by Massive Attack, "Tangled Up In Blue" by Bob Dylan, "Shoulda Woulda Coulda" by Beverley Knight, "This Woman's Work" by Maxwell, "He's So Fine" by The Chiffons and "Falling Slowly" by The Frames. (Source: BBC Radio 2 "Tracks of My Years").
- London, England: Activist (June 2013)
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