Comedian Frank Skinner says its "time to bring forgiveness back" in an interview with the Times about his upbringing and parenting outlook. 

The 67 year-old award-winning comedian, co-star of the 1996 chart topper Three Lions, revealed he often wonders what job he'd get in eternity.

"If I do get to heaven... I’d like to be a defence lawyer for borderline cases: people with a good heart who’ve made a few poor decisions. We used to call it forgiveness and it used to be quite popular, but the world isn’t so keen on it these days. Maybe it’s time to bring it back."

Describing how he understands his Catholic faith, Skinner said: "People make a big thing about me being Catholic. To me it’s like CCTV, keeping a benevolent eye on you, making sure what you’re doing is right.

Skinner also revealed, despite having "a really happy childhood", how his father's relatiionship with alcohol, which created "tension in the house when he was coming back from the pub", has taught him "the best present you can give any child is two teetotal parents".

The father of 12-year-old Buzz says he's grateful that he gave up alcohol in his late 20s . 

"Even after I stopped drinking in 1986, I’d often find myself thinking about nipping over to the off-licence. Drinking made me feel like a romantic outlaw, railing against the great god, normality."