Quotes

If I was 10 years younger, or didn't have children, I might like to go to Hollywood, but it's never been a burning desire, and I can't be arsed now to start at the bottom of the pile. I'm too old and cynical to go cap in hand.

There are some very good people in television, but a lot of fools running it. They put fame ahead of talent and think someone from EastEnders (1985) will put bums on seats. Bollocks. If anything they'll be exposed. When I have school fees to pay you might read 'soap star Philip Glenister'. From DCI Hunt to The Bill (1984) - God, no.

It seems the better the quality, the more you're penalised. If we bring Life on Mars (2006) in on time and perhaps under budget, they say you can do it for less next time. If you said to a heart surgeon, 'Love your work - cut your surgery time', he'd say, 'the patient will die'. It's very frustrating when they want to hurry you up to save money. I tell them, 'I didn't sign up for The Bill (1984). Let's do it properly.'

There's so much cheapness with all this reality stuff. Someone makes big bucks at someone else's expense and it's the sadistic element of shows like Big Brother (2000) I find so cruel. We're so screwed up with our principles. We used to mock Japanese game shows where they ate bugs. Now we're doing the same, if not worse. It's terrifying.

There's so much dumbing down on television. I'm pissed off that every awards ceremony has a special soap category. I don't want to be a snob, but they only do it to satisfy market forces. Soaps are a separate industry, churned out on a treadmill with no time for any creative process, so nobody gives a shit. I have a soft spot for Coronation Street (1960), it doesn't take itself too seriously. But EastEnders (1985) is up its own arse.

(On his character "Gene Hunt" in Life on Mars (2006)) He's Wyatt Earp; he's the Sheriff who wears the badge. When I've been asked what genre you would put "Life On Mars" in, I say it's a Western. It's got everything that a great Western has: the frontier, the town, the characters and the Sheriff and that Sheriff is "Gene".