Category Archives: Worlds Shortest Radio Show

These are words no one was expecting to write today but the 1980s comedy icon has died suddenly, aged just 56. In truth, he’d been half-forgotten, never achieving the huge success of contemporaries like Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie and Ben Elton. Yet when they all first emerged, he was easily the biggest star and most […]

Though that depends on how you define “terrible”. If you mean “impatient”, countless speeding convictions and, from a very stern Sheffield magistrate, the threat of a custodial sentence then she has a point. But if you mean being quick, safe and decisive – never holding up another road user, then isn’t that “good” rather than […]

Because I think I live in the most exciting city in the world. There’s always somewhere to go, something to do, someone to see. And when the sun beams down on London, like it did yesterday, there’s no better place to be. But this morning, the sunshine has been supplanted by charcoal skies and spiteful […]

There is nothing I can add to the sincere tributes paid by people more eminent than me about the bravery, heroism and sacrifices of those who took part. But this anniversary has made me look at rock’n’roll in a very different way. This fantastic record, and others like it, hit the charts just 12 years […]

Well, they’re trainer liners so you can’t really see them. But I used to wear white socks proudly and visibly with shiny black Bass Weejuns and this record is probably the reason why. It was the first jazz-funk tune I ever heard and I still love it. In the late 70s, jazz-funk was far bigger […]

I never had to ask who “Ian” was. The gravelly voice of Ian Dury was unmistakable. “Bit of a problem with the script. Can you come over?” I was working with him on a TV campaign for disability benefits and so I’d head over. He lived right by Hammersmith Bridge in an amazing flat with […]

My friend Phil McGuire runs something called the Prison Radio Association through which prisoners produce and present their own radio shows. The standard is really high and Phil, rightly proud, has invited me down to Brixton Prison to see it in action. I’ve always been a huge admirer of Linton Kwesi Johnson. He spoke out […]

…… and that you’re Ronnie Wood. After 51 seconds turn it upside down and pretend you’re Rod Stewart. Myself and various brooms have had hours of fun pretending to be The Faces. To me, Ronnie Wood, who was 67 yesterday, is the archetypal rock star. I sat next to him once at the Sony Radio […]

80,000 fans were at Wembley last night to see Carl Froch v George Groves, proving that there is still a huge appetite for the noble art. But boxing has been driven televisually underground. Big fights were routinely screened live on ITV or BBC1 but, for the last 20 years, they’ve only been available through pay-per-view. […]

Yes, I pedalled down to Borough Market this morning. For anyone who doesn’t know, this old fruit & veg market is foodie heaven. It is pretty much where Britain’s fairly recent obsession with good food began and the template for all the “farmers’ markets” that have sprung up in its wake. Faced with such a […]