Rory McGrath was born in 1956 in Cornwall. After graduating from Cambridge University, he wrote for Not The Nine O'Clock News, and became a familiar face, thanks to Channel 4 comedy Who Dares Wins in 1983.

Rory McGrath was born in 1956 in Cornwall. After graduating from Cambridge University, he wrote for Not The Nine O'Clock News, and became a familiar face, thanks to Channel 4 comedy Who Dares Wins in 1983.

Other projects have included Chelmsford 123, Whose Line Is It Anyway?, They Think It's All Over and Grumpy Old Men.

Rory appears in Industrial Revelations: Best of British Engineering, which premieres on Discovery Channel, Wednesday, July 26 at 9pm.

He lives in Cambridge with his girlfriend Nicola, and has two children from a previous relationship, Jo, 18 and Annie, 16.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR FIRST ACT AS RULER?

"I'd measure something. That's my ruler gag out the way.

WHO WOULD BE YOUR MOST TRUSTED ADVISER?

"If not my girlfriend Nicola, it would have to be David Gower. I've spent so much time with him doing various programmes. He's one of the most entertaining travel companions and he's very wise. It would be a great bit of class having Lord Gower as my second-in-command."

WHO WOULD YOU BANISH?

"I could ban many politicians from Blair's empire, but John Prescott encapsulates what's bad about them."

WOULD YOU BE A DICTATOR OR A BENEVOLENT LEADER?

"A benevolent dictator. I would make people smoke cannabis, whether they like it or not."

WHO WOULD YOU SINGLE OUT FOR A KNIGHTHOOD AND WHY?

"Nick Hancock, the nicest man in showbiz and a very bright, funny guy. I just think he's under-rated."

WHO WOULD YOU SEND TO THE TOWER OR PUT IN THE STOCKS?

"I can give you a shortlist of 2,000."

WHICH LAW WOULD YOU ABOLISH?

"Can't think of one I'd abolish, but I would make fox-hunting compulsory for vegetarians."

WHAT LAW WOULD YOU INTRODUCE?

"I'd legalise cannabis. I think everyone in the government should try it. It would be nice to see Prime Minister's Question Time if they're all stoned. It would be a completely different country. We'd be living in a much more civilised place."

WHICH BUILDING WOULD YOU DEMOLISH AND WHY?

"How about Stamford Bridge football ground? I won't tell you why. You'll have to work it out."

WHICH RULER OR MONARCH DO YOU MOST ADMIRE OR HAVE MOST IN COMMON WITH?

"Edward I, the king of England who wanted to subdue Wales and Scotland, and he did so ruthlessly. Edward Longshanks they called him."

IF YOU COULD CHANGE THE NATIONAL ANTHEM FOR ANOTHER PIECE OF MUSIC, WHAT WOULD IT BE AND WHY?

"I quite like our national anthem. Whenever you hear the words, it sounds like this is a serious country, but when you hear somewhere like Paraguay's, it sounds like a brass band playing slightly out of tune.

"Something that's very difficult to sing would make a great national anthem. Can you imagine 80,000 people in a football stadium singing that? I think it would be very funny."