IN HIS OWN WORDS: Robbie Coltrane

The 66-year-old actor is back on our screens as disgraced comedian Paul Finchley in National Treasure (9pm, Ch4). Here’s what he has had to say on his life and loves…

On his art school days in Glasgow (1968-72), when he still used his original surname, McMillan:

‘We were the aristocrats. We used to wear blue flared jeans and clean our fingers on them. So we wandered round looking like a Jackson Pollock, basically.’

On his love of vintage cars:

‘I have a shed full of old bangers, which I buy for sweeties and do up. I buy ’em up, do ’em up and sell ’em on. I sound a bit like something out of Minder, don’t I?’

On why Fitz – the criminal psychologist he played from 1993, in Jimmy McGovern’s Cracker – was such a popular character:

‘He has a forensic understanding of people – that the only difference between you and me and a psychopath is about ten per cent. Yet despite his razor-sharp perception of others, he has no knowledge of himself.’

On playing Rubeus Hagrid (right), the 8ft 6in half-giant in the Harry Potter films:

‘Well, it’s delightful, really, it’s very nice. I get the sweetest little letters from people. And often in Tesco, the mum will say to her kids, “Do you know who that man is?” And the kids will go, “You’re not Hagrid – you’re not nearly tall enough.”’