Julian Fellowes matriculated at Magdalene College in 1967 to read English. He is an actor, novelist, Conservative peer, film director and screenwriter. His award-winning scripts include Gosford Park and Downton Abbey.

What’s the nicest thing anyone’s ever said to you?

“Do sing that again.”

Worst public moment?

Playing the Inspector in An Inspector Calls in Northampton Rep sometime in 1974 - I was absolutely rotten and the whole fortnight was excruciating.

Magic power of choice?

Time travel.

What’s the last thing you went to see?

An extraordinary performance of Rigoletto by the Diva Opera Company. I had gone out of duty, to support a charity that is very important to my wife, but I stayed to be transported.

What are you reading at the moment?

Franklin and Winston: An Intimate Portrait of an Epic Friendship, by Jon Meacham.

Guiltiest pleasure?

Probably butter, of which I cannot have too much.

Favourite Cambridge haunt?

My favourite cinema (there were many in the town, then) was a sort of upstairs flea-pit, not far from Magdalene, called the Rex, where we used to go to late shows after rather drunken dinners.  They specialised in ancient films, starring Lana Turner and Vincent Price and Judy Garland and people.

Fondest memory of studenthood?

Punting a girl along the backs at four in the morning after the Magdalene Ball in my final May Week.  The sun was just rising over St John’s and it caught her red hair, so it shone like a flame. I was mad about her, but she was not mad about me, so this was as far as it went…

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Marilyn Monroe, of course, Anthony Trollope, Lola Montez, Disraeli, Lord Byron, Lady Melbourne, Mrs Gaskell, Evelyn Waugh and Vivien Leigh. They would all talk too much and I suspect Byron would walk out, for effect.

Favourite joke?

I can’t tell jokes.  They always come out backwards.