Lord Attenborough celebrates his birthday this month

"The thought of retirement is anathema to me," he said. "I can't imagine anything worse."

The actor and director also spoke about his huge reserves of energy - and his famous trait of calling people "darling".

"Well, darling, somebody said to me recently, 'Dick, what are you on? Because I'd like some'," he told Radio Times.

"I can't wait to get up, even if it's a 5am start for filming. I have the ability to sleep at any time."

He added: "At my age, the only problem is with names. When I call everyone darling, it has damn all to do with passionately adoring them, but I know I'm safe calling them that."

Labour supporter

He is famed for having directed films including the Oscar-winning Gandhi, as well as starring in a diversity of movies including Brighton Rock, as a young criminal, and as a businessman in dinosaur epic Jurassic Park.

Lord Attenborough, who will be 80 on 29 August, was speaking to Radio Times in advance of a BBC Two Arena documentary about his lengthy career, to be screened on 24 and 25 August.

The Labour-supporting peer said his faith in the party had not been shaken by the government's decision to go to war with Iraq.

"I think Tony Blair is a deeply honourable man," he said. "He deserves the support of Labour until things are proven either way. I get a bit fed up with people coming out against him."