The title of his autobiography, "Stalin Ate My Homework", is a reference to the fact that his parents were communists.
In February 1984, he reached number 15 in the UK Singles Chart with the novelty song "'Ullo John! Gotta New Motor?".
In 1995, he was awarded an Honorary Professorship, Thames Valley University.
He is a critic of fox hunting and was among more than 20 high-profile people who signed a letter to Members of Parliament in 2015 to oppose Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron's plan to amend the Hunting Act 2004.
He is a keen cyclist.
He was a regular columnist for the influential British automobile
magazine "Car".