In 1974, after dismally trying his hand at Business Studies, he won a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. 

Two very important events happened in the next three years.  He stopped going out with his then current girlfriend, and started going out with Gina Rowe, a fellow student, whom he married in 1980, and with whom he has two daughters, Jessica born in 1981and Keira born in1983...