I used to be a very fit, athletic footballer. When I became a comedian, everything went to pot: long journeys; late-night food. I went from being a fit young man to a blob.

But the Baha'is have never been helpless victims of their tormentors. Iran's government abuses them and countless others; the Baha'is respond with a peaceful determination to serve their fellow Iranians and offer a hopeful vision of the future.

The first job I ever had was working for my dad, helping him out with some of his work as a translator - he used to take in sick lodgers who had come over from Iran to get medical assistance. It was 1975 and I was 10 at the time.

Britain and America are always kind of at war with the Middle East in some way. And you've got Omid Djalili who is clearly an Iranian and very proud of his heritage, yet he is a very unique voice. He kind of belongs to Britain because he had a BBC show, but at the same time he hasn't rejected his Middle Eastern roots.

Not the Nine O'Clock News' was the first comedy show I truly responded to when I was a teenager. I watched it avidly not just for pleasure but also for kudos.

I was very lucky to get a part in Gladiator and had a couple of scenes with Oliver Reed. I was basically a bit frightened of him.