I don’t like getting up too early unless I have to．When you’re filming, you’ve got make-up on, which doesn’t happen often．As I’m not filming at present I’ll get up at 8.30．

　　Work normally means Matt coming over to my house about 10 am．We’re writing at the moment．We’ll chat for a bit before going to my study．One of us will have an idea for a sketch(梗概), we’ll talk about the characters and when we feel we have enough we’ll start writing．

　　Matt and I met at the National Youth Theatre in 1990 and started doing shows together in 95, at the Edinburgh Fringe festival．We know we’re onto something if we’ve made each other laugh, and that’s a really special moment．It’s not always like that, but we’re comfortable enough with each other that we can be honest and go．Some days you’re not in the mood to be funny－like writing when my dad was dying of cancer, or when Matt was separating from his partner．

　　We stop for lunch and sometimes go to Wagamama in Camden, but the last time we were followed by paparazzi(狗仔队), which gets you down－who wants to be pictured eating noodles?

　　When I’m not writing with Matt I work on other projects．My second children’s book comes out later in the year．It’s called Mr．Stink．The first one I dedicated to my three-year-old nephew, Eddie．Both books have been illustrated by Quentin Blake; it’s been a thrill to work with him－like 20 years ago reading a Roald Dahl book and looking at those drawings, then one day that person illustrates your work…magical．

　　At 5 I go swimming in Soho．My trainer makes me do horrible exercises, but I always feel better after．

　　Being in all day, I like to go out in the evening and look smart, but not like I’ve come out of the City．I’m a tall, broad guy and well-dressed．

　　For dinner I’ll meet friends．When you’re a single guy it’s great to have some good female friends．Or I might take my mum to the theatre, as I know she really appreciates it．I like watching TV comedy shows to see what everyone’s doing．When you see something impressive it makes you work harder．I also love Larkin’s poems：they don’t try to transcend(超越)the commonplace; they’re much more straightforward．

　　Poetry is great to dip into before going to bed, rather than falling asleep reading a novel and being confused over what you’ve read or not．I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in seven years; unfortunately, I rely on pills．I’ve tried everything．If I could wish anything for myself, I’d wish I could sleep better．

阅读理解

　　“I don't like my parents．They always tell me I should do this, and should not do that．It sometimes makes me angry,” said Li Ping, a middle school student in Hunan．Do you have the same problem?Perhaps your parents had the same problem when they were your age long ago．Why does it seem that some parents are not so friendly in their children's eyes?

　　One of the biggest things is when someone becomes a parent, he/she likes worrying things．They worry about everything about you, from the time you were born．They do a lot for you, though something would make you angry, because they care about you and worry about you．They worry about your choice of friends, the food you eat, your work at school, how much sleep you get, etc．All these things are part of your life．They want you to grow up healthily and happily．

　　So how can you make things easier on yourself?It's easier than you think．Just make sure your parents know what you're doing．Get them to know your friends．Phone if you stay somewhere else so that your parents don't call every hospital in the phone book looking for your body．Say sorry to them when you make mistakes．Take responsibility(责任)for what you have done．Talk about your ideas with them．They may talk about theirs with you．

　　Most of all, try to think about why your parents do this or do that．They are still practicing being parents and need help you can give them．Someday, when you become a parent, they may be able to help you know how to get on with your children．