"I have a stepladder. It's a very nice stepladder but it's sad that I never knew my real ladder"

This quote by Craig Charles is a metaphor for life. He is stating that he has a stepladder, which is a metaphor for the life he has created for himself. He acknowledges that it is a great life, but he still feels a sense of sadness since he never ever knew his "real ladder". This might be analyzed as a yearning for a life that he never had, or a life that he could have had if he had made different choices. It could likewise be interpreted as a feeling of regret for not benefiting from the chances he had in life. Whatever the analysis, it is clear that Craig Charles is revealing a sense of sadness and regret for not having the life he wanted. He is likewise expressing a sense of gratitude for the life he has actually developed for himself, although it is not the life he desired.