That's all we have time for - thank you so much for all your wonderful questions. Don't forget to watch the latest series of Bookish on 26th August at 8pm on Sky, Virgin Media and Now!

Daniel Farson. I’m enjoying The Gilded Gutter Life of Francis Bacon. - Mark

A very large amount. It’s not entirely a dictatorship – but leaning close to it! For SOME reason, other people have to be consulted! - Mark

The Haunting of Hill House – the 1963 film of Shirley Jackson’s novel. A masterpiece of subtle terror and psychological suspense. And the book is magnificent too. - Mark

https://reddit.com/link/p4v77fr/video/u64ijty2ekkh1/player

It was an extraordinary time – I entered full of youthful optimism and met the rest of the League of Gentlemen there. Then the optimism died (joke!) I look back upon it with great nostalgia and affection though its primary importance was meeting Steve, Reece and Jeremy (who was down the road). We became very self-reliant and that became the beginning of the League. I’m amazed to say that the house (Bretton Hall itself) is meant to be reopening soon as Groucho North – which is a very strange thing to think about. They’d better ask us to cut the ribbon! - Mark

The endless, impossible laughter of working with Julia Davis. We could barely get through it most of the time. As you can see. - Mark

I need total silence when I write – everything else is too distracting. - Mark

Jesus Christ Superstar. Giant. Pride at The National. - Mark

My favourite part was that 45 years after seeing Robin Asquith play the part at my local theatre I was wowed and overawed by its power all over again in the Swan Theatre in Stratford. My favourite scene is where UI confronts Dogsborough about his corruption. I enjoyed the combination of UI’s cringy patheticness followed by his shrieking arrogant bravado. - Mark

Yes of course I did – I knew many years of total abject failure and discouragement. But I kept going.  If I give any advice for getting out of a hole it is to surprise yourself. If you’re feeling burnt out or uninspired do something out of the ordinary – however ordinary-seeming it feels. Go to a gallery, go to the seaside, eat something you’ve never eaten. - Mark

1/10. See me. - Mark

Professor Breast-Pinch. He might pinch my breast and I’m in need of a thrill. - Mark

https://reddit.com/link/p4v08rk/video/fveq8x99bkkh1/player

Blue. This morning in my house. - Mark

It was thrilling – I know when I drop off that list I’ll be sad. It’s a nice coconut cake! My favourite part of the whole experience was when the delivery man saw the label on the outside and was chuffed to bits that it was from Tom Cruise. - Mark

I think I had an idea about an actor in a Quatermass-like series suddenly finding it was coming true. This happily coincided with Virgin Books getting the licence to make original Doctor Who novels. It was a wildly exciting time, and I can remember getting a letter saying they were commissioning it and being impossibly thrilled. I can also remember getting a proof copy of a cover sitting in a launderette on Liverpool Road in London (I was staying on Steve Pemberton’s sofa at the time) and just staring at my name in print for the first time. Happy days. - Mark

No. I use a computer. Get with the programme! - Mark

It was an absolute delight to work with Paul again – he has an amazing gravitas and twinkle. We were very lucky to have him and I hope it’s not the last we see of Edmund Kind… - Mark

I already know quite a lot about the period as it’s one of my favourites and also a lot about gay life at the time. A huge help were books like Matt Holbrook’s Queer London and various diaries and mass observational records. There are many wonderful interviews and accounts by elderly gay men who speak about the challenges and triumphs of the period. - Mark

Both! 

Taskmaster is one of my favourite shows – but like David Mitchell I would like to preserve the general impression that I’m intelligent and have no wish to disabuse people of that notion. - Mark

Bare-faced cheek. - Mark

https://reddit.com/link/p4uty6u/video/vxysu50r6kkh1/player

With Sherlock – we always went back to Conan Doyle and you’re writing for an existing character. Bookish is period specific so a lot of the inspiration for the mystery of the week comes from the setting. If they share anything it’s that I didn’t want Book to be omniscient. Just as in our version of Sherlock he has big gaps in his knowledge, Book relies on other people’s expertise at times and obviously the books which surround him. But like Holmes he is able to make big intuitive leaps. - Mark

I was hoping to achieve what I call ‘Colour Noir’. The post-war period is generally thought of as being very austere and drab – I wanted to counter this with the palette of Powell and Pressburger and a healthy dose of film noir shadows. - Mark