Richard Curtis has confirmed he will be bowing out as a director after he premiered his romantic drama About Time.

The Love Actually director and co-founder of Comic Relief said it was “exciting” to open the Film4 Summer Screen outdoor cinema series at London’s Somerset House with his fourth film before joking that he would make the most of his swansong.

“It’s lovely to be outside. I’ve never done this before, so the idea of 1,600 people watching a movie of mine outside is very new,” said the 56-year-old on the red carpet.

“This might be my directing swansong – although I’ll continue writing – so this could be my last premiere.”

The time-travelling drama stars Domhnall Gleeson, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy, who all attended the premiere.

He revealed that he was giving up directing because it is “10,000 days of worry”.

“I’m hoping people who see this movie will take away the message that it is good to try and enjoy every day of your life as much as you can and directing is intense, so I’m trying to avoid that tension,” he said.