Question from Clara: If you were marooned on a desert island which one of your Stella Street characters would you most like to be stranded with?
Phil Cornwell: David Bowie I think ... not Jimmy Hill, as I do him!
Question from Ella Hamster: Who or what inspired you to get into comedy?
Phil Cornwell: People like Peter Sellers; Stan Laurel was a big hero of mine; Woody Allen. Peter Sellers definitely a big influence. Stan Laurel fascinated me as well.
Question from Martin T: Who would you most like to act alongside?
Phil Cornwell: It would have to be Robert De Niro, I'd just love to work with him.
Question from Laura: How are you coping with new technology, coz I heard you were a bit of a technophobe!
Phil Cornwell: I've got a computer and one of these days I'm going to find out how to turn it on! But before I do that, I must take it out of its box!
Question from Wilfred O: What would be your dream role?
Phil Cornwell: That's tricky. My dream role would be playing a wild west hero, as long as it was shot in the western deserts of America. That's where I would like to be, so I can go driving on my days off. It beats Manchester.
Question from Barry: Have you fulfilled your artistic potential yet?
Phil Cornwell: Not by a long chalk Bazza!
Question from Mick Jagger: You're not the first comic to get into drama. Why is it that comics make a success of it whereas when straight actors try comedy they often fail?
Phil Cornwell: That's a good one. I'm no expert but we all have opinions and theories. Certain comedians have a certain sensitivity. I don't know if there's much difference between drama and comedy anyway.
Question from Charlie Boucher: Does your comedy background make it hard not to play for laughs in a drama like Clocking Off?
Phil Cornwell: I managed to keep it very straight in Clocking Off, the comedy does come through usually, a certain quirkiness.
Question from Roger Atkins: What was your big break into showbiz?
Phil Cornwell: Saturday Live in 1987, with Ben Elton et all. I was doing my act. I was on with Julian Clary, it was his first appearance on TV too, Harry Enfield, Meatloaf! I did a three minute spot and stormed it. That started things off really. I'd been working the clubs since I was 16 really, in Essex and East London.
Question from Siobhan Bowe: What is your biggest ambition?
Phil Cornwell: To work in America, La La land! Never done it. I'm too old to go over there with tapes and stuff now. It would be nice to be asked, one day who knows. Something like Stella Street might work, the Australians love it. The people we do on that are sufficiently high profile.
Question from Mick J: Do you think the people at Clocking Off have brought you in as a 'big name' for the ratings?
Phil Cornwell: I wouldn't have thought that for one minute, no. I don't even think I am a big name, I don't know how you measure that. I certainly don't get mobbed on the streets. If I am a big name, where's the big money!
Question from Sara Thomas: Who makes you laugh?
Phil Cornwell: The Office, that makes me laugh. Big Train, that's funny. Alan Partridge - Steve Coogan, brilliant. I was in that, but even despite that it's one of the funniest comedies that has ever been on TV ... apart from Fawlty Towers, which is my favourite.
Question from Jill Kelly: You really resemble bad man 'Rick' in BBC's Playing the Field - are you related in any way?
Phil Cornwell: No, we are not related. Thanks very much but we're not!
Question from Oliver Frampton: Will you be making an appearance on the next Alan Partridge series, having played his nemesis DJ in the last?
Phil Cornwell: There is one coming up and it is a possibility. Can't say any more than that though.
Question from Chorton: I thought you were brilliant in Clocking Off tonight - what other projects have you got lined up?
Phil Cornwell: I've got a big part in The Bill, 10 episodes, playing a pervert, a real scumbag. Just the sort of part you want to play. He's a nasty piece of work. I start shooting for that on Saturday.
Question from Robert Smith: If you were at the Winter Olympics what sport would you be playing?
Phil Cornwell: I'd probably be doing the louge - as soon as I found out what it was - you go down the slopes on a tea tray don't you! Marvelous. I'm more of a football man though, Tottenham Hotspur.
Question from Ky Smith: What do you like doing in your spare time?
Phil Cornwell: I go to the gym a lot, there's a brand new one that's opened up around the corner and I go there a lot.
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