Write a new chapter
Turning the page etc
Just a little one this week, because I’m technically unemployed between jobs and it’s too hot.
This week I made my first trip to Salford to meet some of my new 5 Live colleagues. The BBC might be the world’s greatest broadcaster but it turns out that like every new job, it takes a while to get your log-ins and emails sorted – reassuring really. And I’ve had my impartiality training, although it turns out I didn’t have many views that needed extracting. Lucky.
My other project has been to finish off a bonus chapter for the paperback of my book, Planes, Trains and Toilet Doors: 50 Places That Changed British Politics.
It’s a sign of how fast politics has moved that when I wrote the original manuscript, I began thinking the Boris Johnson chapter (The Co-Op on The Strand where No10 staff bought a suitcase of wine during lockdown) was bang up to date.
Then I added the Liz Truss chapter (A4, Great West Road, Chiswick where Kwasi Kwarteng found out from Twitter that he was getting the sack).
And then I added the Rishi Sunak chapter (Tennants auction house, Harrogate where he was selected to replace William Hague as the local Tory candidate).
What a difference a year makes. So now I’ve written a bonus chapter on a major turning point for Keir Starmer, which also involves a man who owns inflatables of The Grinch, Mr Bump and Dora The Explorer. For the full story, you’ll just have to pre-order the paperback, which is out in October.
Pedal to the medal
A lot of driving this week, and some light DIY (ripping up carpets) so have been enjoying a lot of the Olympics on the radio rather than TV. What was funny was occasionally switching from the huge verbal excitement of 5 Live (obvs) to the rather calmer observations of the telly commentators. Has also been funny listening to the desperation of each of the presenters (especially Tony Livesey) to get a Team GB medal in their airtime. Luckily there have been plenty to go round. Radio really does have all the best pictures.
Huge thanks for all the lovely messages and comments about my last show on Times Radio. It was a glorious, happy, sad, funny end of an era. I have been missing it all over the past week, but can’t wait to be back on the radio from September.
A sad loss to Times Radio but a big gain for the BBC , I’ll still be listening
Missing you on Times Radio, Matt, I can't wait for the new show. Will you be keeping Can you get to number 10? I reached Home Secretary during one of your live shows last year. Enjoy your break!