Eddie Izzard has said he needs a bit more time to finish up his acting career before he goes into politics full time.

The stand-up comedian and actor has said he is aiming to be in political office in six years' time, and explained to the Radio Times why he decided not to stand for the London Mayoral elections in 2016.

He said: "Because I've spent so many years putting this career together. If I'm going to pack it away or put it into hibernation, I need to pack it away correctly. There's just some stuff I need to do before then.

"The dramatic roles I'm getting are better and better. I went into a film with Dustin Hoffman just after doing two months' stand-up in Germany."

Eddie said he was ready for the public scrutiny of his private life that would come with moving into politics: "I've always been ready for the papers to go for me. I always thought they probably would at some point."

But when asked about his current relationship status he only described it as "quizzical" and after stumbling over his answer, said: "Daniel Day Lewis doesn't go on about it, so I don't see why...

"There's no point in going into it, because once you go into it then they go, 'So does that mean...?' And it just draws it out and out and out and out."

However, Eddie said he thought he was tough enough to deal with critics: "I've had people attack me in the street, I've had people shout endless abuse at me. What are they going to say in print that's going to be worse than that?

"If you're going to be a transvestite, and you're going to be out in public, you've got to be tough enough. I'll just try and be as positive and as open as I can. And try and have a bit of privacy for myself. And see how it goes."