Gyles Brandreth

Please include this, because people will be surprised to know that I first appeared in front of a BBC microphone, I think it was in 1966 or 67.

So I've been doing this for quite a long while.

But the young Harriet Jane, who's having a birthday, she's getting older at the end of this week, is telling me that my microphone technique is hopeless.

In fact, she says this to me on a regular basis.

I'm rocking with excitement because here we are.

And we're going to do some diaries.

Also, I'm a little bit high because I'll be honest with you.

I've had some highs and I've had some lows in recent days.

Three good friends of mine have died recently.

And I know.

You are still at the going to weddings stage, aren't you?

Do you ever go to christenings?

Do you ever go to... Maybe you're going to divorce showers.

People have these divorce parties now.

But you're not yet going regularly to funerals.

Whereas I've reached the stage and age where I am.

A man I knew well called Peter Ridsdale Scott died quite recently.

He was a television producer.

And with him in the 1980s, I did a whole series of shows, including all the ones I did with Hinge and Brackett.

He was just a nice guy.