For his first performance at Latitude, the subject of Richard Curtis' hour-long talk was of course relationships.

Teaming up with acclaimed author Kate Mosse and professor of English John Mullan, the writer and director took to the stage this afternoon (Sunday) in the Literature Arena.

Curtis, who owns a home near Walberswick in Suffolk with broadcaster Emma Freud, said the British were far better at encapsulating feelings about love in 'three minute pop songs' than face-to-face.

From Love Actually to Four Weddings and a Funeral to Notting Hill, Curtis often commentates on the complexity of how two people attracted to each other can make living happy and long lives together far more taxing than in principle it should be.

Speaking about the subjects he has written about, he said: 'I have not thought about it much, I write what I do...because I came from a loving family I think that had the most effect on my life. If rather my environment had been more knives and blood that would have affected me a different way.'

Although it was his first performance at Latitude, he has visited the festival before.

'...[it] shows the world can be a better and more harmonious place, people enjoying themselves here, being nice to each other experiencing traditional and advanced art,' he said.

He added his focus this year was on the upcoming 2015 Red Nose Day and early work on a new film.

The New Statesman presented the event with Mosse, known for novels including The Taxidermist's Daughter and professor of English from University College London, John Mullan.