IN HER OWN WORDS: Alison Steadman

The actress concludes her tour of Little British Isles (8pm, Ch4) with a trip to the tranquil Isles of Scilly. Here’s what she has had to say about her life and career…

On her interest in other people: ‘I people watch wherever I go, which is completely absorbing and illuminating – wondering why he chose to wear that particular coat, why she hasn’t got any make-up on, what makes that pair over there gel as a couple.’

On her favourite pastimes: ‘I’m a homely person. I’ve never been one of those people who goes stir crazy and thinks, “If I don’t get into the West End today, I’ll scream!” I’m not in the cocoa-and-Slanket bracket yet, but I do enjoy a good potter round, and I have binoculars at the windows so I can spot the dunnocks and woodpeckers.’

On her battle with depression: ‘I do now have what I call dark days, when I get very down. It has nothing to do with happiness in my life, because I am happy. But sometimes, a depression does come over me, which I have to fight to shake off. I have to count all the pluses in my life. It’s weird. I never thought I’d be like this.’ On her most famous character, dinner party host Beverly, in the 1977 TV play Abigail’s Party: ‘That character was devised by me and [her then husband] Mike Leigh. We started with a blank sheet of paper, and we improvised and we ended up with Abigail. I feel very proud of that.’

On her love of performing in the

theatre: ‘I love theatre. When it works properly and you’re over the nerves and you’ve got a good play with nice audiences, that’s my favourite thing to do.’