"People complain that the language was homophobic, and it was, but it was exactly how people spoke. And I should know - I was in a Royal Artillery concert party that travelled around India. We had a sergeant-major who hated us. He'd say: 'No man who puts on make-up and ponces about on a stage is normal - what are you?' 'We're a bunch of poofs!' we'd reply. And those experiences are ones that enabled me to write It Ain't Half Hot, Mum."