Nicholas Hytner on his qualifications for running London’s National Theatre: “Of course I’ve never run a theatre, but I’ve always felt a bit of an impresario. I’m a director who’s whored around, kicked around for the right offer – and I’m not talking money. If an affair has looked exciting, I’ve leapt in. Some of my best times have been at the National, going back to the days when I worked here when Richard [Eyre] was director. It’s a good stage of life to be working hard. I’m hungry enough and confident enough to take it on.”