Gyles Brandreth

That was his one.

Okay.

Time on screen prior to being James Bond.

Are the legendary people from an earlier era, who's the one you remember most or were most excited about to think, I'm hosting this party and in this room I've got whoever it was?

You know the wonderful line that he told apparently to my friend Leslie Bricus when they met up when Billy Wilder was in his 90s and making a film.

And Leslie said, oh, I've not seen you for a while.

How are you doing?

I'm doing very well.

I'm loving making this movie.

And then advised Leslie, he said, whatever you do, don't waste your 80s.

There you are.

That was exciting.

Any disasters?

Any people you thought, well, we invited them because they're a name, but good grief, do they not know how to behave?

And did you often find people standing alone?

Because one of the things I've noticed over the years is that often the stars, going backstage, often the big stars' dressing room is the quietest one, unless they've got friends in, personal friends in.

Because people are overawed and feel they can't approach them.

Very good.

So, the parties are a huge success and they go on being a success, but the magazine, why did your magazine become, for 25 years under your editorship, the phenomenon that it did become?

It's a tall order, actually.