The 5-Minute Interview: Barry Norman, journalist and critic

'Supermarkets sell my pickled onions'

Barry Norman, 74, started his career at the 'Kensington News', going on to write for the 'Daily Mail' and 'The Guardian', and hosting his own show on Radio 4. Norman spent 20 years as the host of BBC1's 'Film' series. 'Barry Norman's Christmas Movie Quiz' is out now on DVD.

If I weren't talking to you right now I'd be...

Researching films and other stuff.

A phrase I use too often ...

In the 1980s Rory Bremner lumbered me with the catchphrase: "And why not!" I defy anyone to find any programme where I say that. I complained to Rory, who wrote back: "Get your own catchphrase then."

I wish people would take more notice of ...

The "war on terror" has enabled the Government to take away our liberty.

A common misperception of me is ...

I'm only interested in films.

I'm not a politician but if I were ...

I would rescind many of the laws introduced since the war in Iraq.

The most surprising thing to happen to me was ...

Having my pickled onions go on sale in supermarkets. The recipe has been in my family for generations.

I'm good at ...

Making pickled onions.

I'm very bad at ...

DIY. I can't change a light-bulb.

The ideal night out is ...

A meal with my wife, a bottle of wine and a book. People assume that because we read while we eat we must have a boring marriage, but it's not true.

In weak moments I ...

Buy a garment from a shop, take it home and realise that it's crap.

You know me as a film critic but in a truer life I'd have been ...

A best-selling novelist. I've written 10 books.

The best age to be is ...

Any age that you have your wits about you.

In a nutshell, my philosophy is this ...

"This above all; to thy own self be true." It's Shakespeare.