House star, Hugh Laurie has revealed that when he was younger, he never intended to reach the grand old age of 40.

In an interview with Playboy, Hugh revealed that he and a group of school friends made a pact to kill themselves if they reached the big four oh.

“In fact, there were some hardcore members of the group – I wasn’t one of them – who wanted to make it 30,” the 49-year-old said.

On hit American TV show, Hugh plays Dr Gregory House and in the interview he said he identifies with aspects of his character’s personality.

“We’re both quite serious but also have childishness. He and I are eternal adolescents but with this morbid gravity.

“The other thing is we both have issues with joy, insomuch as we think it’s beyond us.”