Is it still raining? I hadn't noticed

A lesson in things turning out OK

A year ago and a day ago it was announced that I would be joining BBC Radio 5 Live in time for the autumn election.

A year ago today somebody called a summer election (in not very summery conditions). I was fuming. The best laid plans of mice and men with big career ambitions often go awry.

Rumours of a snap election began swirling on that Wednesday morning, just as I was basking in the glow of non-stop WhatsApp congratulations about the new job. So I refused to believe it. Doing that thing of latching on to the evidence to support my theory that he wouldn’t go early (“the polls! look at the polls!”)

At PMQs Rishi Sunak was asked by the SNP’s Stephen Flynn if there would indeed be an early summer election. “As I have said repeatedly… there is — spoiler alert — going to be a general election in the second half of this year.”

It turned out that by going for July 4, he was right. Just.

After my Times Radio show finished at 1pm I went off to the Podcast Show with my old mate and executive producer Andrew Alexander, to take part in a panel discussion about the creation and success of our podcast How To Win An Election (just as I was coming to hate this election which was ruining my BBC career before it had even started).

Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Danny Finkelstein arrived in various states of bedraglment and irritation. The venue was hot, steam rising from the rain-soaked audience of podcasters. I can’t remember much of the discussion apart from Peter remarking at how wonderfully underproduced How To Win was, while Andrew sat on the front row biting his tongue.

With school holidays approaching, we had planned to record the following week’s episode of How To Win that afternoon, using one of the demonstration stands set-up with the obligatory mid-century furniture, velvet armchairs and massive podcast mics on stands. What to do? Do we record a podcast which could (will?) be out of date within hours?

Instead we recorded a podcast which was ahead of its time. At around 3pm we sat down and had a discussion about what will happen now that a snap election had been called. At around 4pm Rishi Sunak actually called the snap election.

I sat watching it with Andrew in a Pret. Fuming. I edited the montage for the top, and he tided up the episode, while Sunak got wetter and wetter on the small screen on my phone.

Then we had to wait for long enough before releasing the emergency podcast because it would look weird if a half hour episode landed 5mins after Sunak went in doors to towel down.

And then I went home. Damp. And furious.

Now, 12 wild months later, I wouldn’t have changed a thing. It was brilliant covering the election as a swansong at Times Radio, with Andrew, and Erin, Lewis, Kea, Tom, Ollie and the gang.

Then I had the summer off, and started the new show live in Westminster in September.

With hindsight I suspect inserting myself into the BBC’s election machine late in the day would have been stressful and frustrating. Also elections are when everybody has a go at making politics “a bit fun”. It would have been hard to stand out.

Since then it’s been a blast working with the 5 Live team, especially Matt Wright, Tom Green and Maddy Trimmer. We have had amazing guests and listeners, been to conferences, America, Downing Street, Grantham, HMS Belfast, and I somehow landed a gig as Friday presenter on Newsnight, while being about to embark on a new standup tour. Not a bad year’s work.

Remembering that incredible stressful time a year ago, of sleepless nights before my move was announced and the angry days when the plans didn’t go to plan, it’s a reminder that things often work out. Even if not quite how or when you expected.

So, now, I wouldn’t change a thing. Thanks Rishi.

• We will be discussing the hows and whys of the snap election on my 5Live show today, with former Sunak adviser James Nation, ex-Tory MP Gillian Keegan, The Sunday Times’ Tim Shipman and Starmer’s pollster Deborah Mattinson. Listen from 2pm.

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For two decades I have feasted on politics, stalking the corridors, pubs and restaurants of Westminster. Now I have all the ingredients to cook up a brand new show looking at parliament's feuding food factions and how politicians really are what they eat. From Keir Starmer’s fish and cheese, to Kemi Badenoch’s hatred of sandwiches, from Nigel Farage’s proper milk to Ed Davey’s fig rolls, everything (and everyone) is on the menu.

WARNING: Politics may contain nuts.

As seen on Have I Got News For You (BBC1), Newsnight (BBC 2) and Lorraine (ITV1).

• 30th June Norwich Playhouse

• 1st July Farnham Maltings

• 2nd July Bristol Redgrave Theatre

• 3rd July Lyme Regis Marine Theatre

• 4th July Oxford North Wall

• 7th July Canterbury Gulbenkian

• 8th July Newcastle The Stand

• 9th July Edinburgh The Stand

• 10th July Birmingham Glee Club

• 12th July Salford Lowry

• 13th July Cheltenham Town Hall

• 8 November Taunton Brewhouse

• 10 November London Cambridge Theatre

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