Your book Yes Man became an international phenomenon. Where did the idea come from for this and did you ever imagine it would be the success that it is?
The idea of saying yes to everything came because I’d been saying no to everything. That’s the simplest way of putting it, though there were some other, stranger circumstances. Sometimes someone will say something to you, which to them is completely innocuous and slight, but depending on your frame of mind and the way you feel could come right at the perfect time. That’s kind of what happened with this and it’s caused a chain reaction. A lot of people who’ve read the book have been in touch to say that it’s had the same effect on them. So maybe that’s why people like it.

For anyone that hasn’t read the book, what kinds of situations did you find yourself in through simply saying yes to things you wouldn’t normally have done?
I went to Singapore for very little reason. I bought a car from a bloke at a party just because he said: ‘I don’t suppose you’d be interested in buying a car, would you?’ I said yes to whatever spam e-mail posed a relevant question, meaning I’m now the proud possessor of an amazing penis patch…

On your website there are many stories of people that have taken the idea of saying yes to things they wouldn’t normally have done after reading your book. What has been the most inspiring story that you have read?
They’ve all been inspiring in their own ways, because they’ve all had an immediate effect on the person who’s decided to say yes. I got one a couple of days ago from a guy who’s said yes to a girl he briefly met while travelling and they’re meeting up in Mexico next week; a couple of people have got engaged after saying yes to something they wouldn’t normally have said yes to; people have changed jobs to do what they really wanted to do… it’s all good stuff. Sometimes, as I found, all you need is a little push, or for someone to say: ‘it’s okay to take a risk’. The biggest risk is never taking one, and really, the things you regret in life, are the things you said no to. If you said yes and it went wrong, well, you did it, and you don’t ever have to do it again. But what you miss a chance, and you don’t know how something could have gone, or where it could have led, or who you could have met and that’s something that’ll stay with you.

There is a film currently in development for Yes Man and is set to star Jack Black. Are you pleased that he has been chosen to play you?
I think Jack Black is brilliant. Although I should stress that he is ‘set’ to play me, not definitely playing me. There are a couple of other brilliant names in the frame too. I should know more in a week or three.

You have had even more success with your projects Join Me and How To Start Your Own Country. Did you really think at the time that pacing a small add in Loot magazine simply saying ‘Join Me’ would work?
I had no idea, which is one of the reasons I wanted to see. I’m quite optimistic, and I’ve got great faith in others – more so since Join Me in fact – and I’m thrilled that it worked to the extent that it did. We’re five years on from that advert, and still people are joining every single day of the year. Joinees are meeting up all over the world. Good deeds are being done. A few months ago we raised nearly eight grand to build a classroom in Africa and so much else goes on too, all thanks to the kindness of strangers.

Would you have responded to a similar advert if you had seen it (and obviously hadn’t thought of the idea!)?
I’m sad to say that at the time I’m not entirely convinced that I would but now I’m glad to report I dare say I would!

Do you think the response to this advert says anything about today’s society?
I think the response to the ad itself shows us there are people willing to take a risk – people of adventure and spirit. But the response from the word-of-mouth after that initial ad was astounding and when people found out it was about good deeds, it went crazy. That has to tell you something good about the world.

Why do you think people were willing to take the risk? What do you think was lacking in their lives that they thought they might get out of contacting a stranger?
I think everyone joined for their own reasons. It’s dangerous to generalise too much and say that there was anything lacking in anyone’s lives. Sure, for a couple there may well have been, but for others it was a chance to do something new, or try something unusual, or it was a puzzle to be solved. No two joinees are ever the same.

Where's the furthest afield that you had an application come from?
They come in from everywhere – Thailand, Sweden, China, India, Kenya, Australia, America and Swindon.

Are you still getting applications?
Every day I get about five passport photos in the post.

Have you had any celebrities applying to join?!
Oh yes – Richard and Judy, Richard Curtis, Mackenzie Crook, a rock star I can’t tell you about, a couple of soap stars, a major British presenter and a few more from time to time.

At the last count how many citizens does your country have?
Around 60,000 – but that was when the counter broke…

How long did it take to think of naming your country ‘Lovely’?!
Six weeks. But the people named it, not me. It was the first democratically-named country in the history of all countries, ever.

What makes for a good citizen in Lovely?
We have but one commandment – Be Good. A good citizen will always be a good citizen.

Have you received any feedback from any top British officials regarding this project? You gave Tony Blair a declaration of independence – did you ever get a response from him?
Look, we’re both busy men. I don’t begrudge Tony not getting in touch for a year or two – he’s had a lot on his plate. I think that in the coming months he’ll probably have a bit more time to catch up on his correspondence. I’m going to be quite busy, though, as I’ll be hosting an international summit/barbecue on the 19th and then meeting with my minister of defence to discuss some new borders/double glazing, so it’ll have to be him that waits this time…!