Below are a small selection of just a few of those who I have interviewed over the past few years. It has been an incredible experience to meet with and talk to such a varied and fascinating group of people.
Geoffrey Mcgivern
You can hear the original interview here: http://ury.york.ac.uk/uryplayer/podcasts/650/
Geoffrey McGivern is to thousands of people across the globe the voice of Ford Prefect, the much loved character from Douglas Adams’ cult radio series ‘The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’.
When the opportunity this year arose to contact the members of the original radio cast of one of the most famous radio series of all time I jumped at the chance and got in contact with the production company through the press agency at our local ambassadors theatre.
I was offered a chance to speak to any of the radio cast but Geoff was perfect because there was only one interview I could find with him online and he grew up in York. Moreover after some research I was thrilled to discover that he had known Douglas Adams since his time at Cambridge so it was a delight to talk to him about his first impressions of the man as well as his own time in The Footlights.
When I rang Geoff in his hotel room while touring with a new stage version of the radio programme I was amazed at how fascinating and funny he was about the smallest things, be it the design flaws of Mercedes coaches to the best (and worst) things about hotels while touring; he told me Douglas Adams once described him as being able to talk about a pair of shoes for an hour.
As it happens I ended up speaking to Mr McGivern for almost 50 minutes in which time we chatted in depth about the recording of the original series, their reunion for the final radio series in 2003 (this time of course sadly without Douglas Adams) as well as his other work on programmes such as Chris Addison’s ‘Lab Rats’ and new BBC comedy ‘Dead Boss’ which he hoped would go far.
Furthermore we chatted about his opinion of the dramatizations of the novels and the fact that he cannot bring himself to watch the film version of Adams’ books while also touching on his time growing up in York and discovering his talent and desire for the dramatic after watching a performance at the York Theatre Royal where he would later work.
He also described the moment when he decided to relive his childhood and return to see his old school only to be confronted with the words ‘CARPET SALE’ in every classroom window; ‘no proustian moment for me!’
There was a lot of work in post-production on the interview as I grabbed at opportunistic moments of silence, such as Mr McGivern turning off Radio 3 to have him pick up ‘The Guide’ to give the interview a further element of fun to the interview as well as working in clips from his work across the decades to illustrate his points. I also cut the interview down to just over half an hour to improve the flow and pace of the piece.
The interview was well received by my peers at the university and when I was lucky enough to meet Geoff a couple of days later he graciously greeted me as an old friend and signed my programme ‘to the greatest interviewer in the galaxy’, something I shall treasure all my life.
Student Radio Awards Judges Comments
• Geoff is a gift of a guest and a wonderful speaker giving an insight into the Hitchhikers world. John was well prepared and didn't ask many questions but the ones he did were interesting. Nice creative use of clips to illustrate what he was saying - like the 'hello Arthur' line. I wanted to hear more.
• This is an interesting and entertaining interview. It has a light hearted feel and the interviewee responds well to John's questions which are clearly well researched and his enthusiasm for the subject comes across well. The interview is well edited and technically sound, and despite being over the phone is perfectly audible the whole way through. The interviewer made a good decision to include the interviewee's spontaneous remarks at the beginning - which sets a lively and engaging tone for the piece.
• Great interview which revealed some wonderful insights into a popular and well known radio series. Loved the question about Ford Prefect's name. It was well contextualised and was a delight to hear.
• The presenter has a nice voice and connected well with the interviewee.
• A good, informative interview with nice clear delivery.
• A relaxed interview, with good post-production.
Geoffrey McGivern is to thousands of people across the globe the voice of Ford Prefect, the much loved character from Douglas Adams’ cult radio series ‘The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy’.
When the opportunity this year arose to contact the members of the original radio cast of one of the most famous radio series of all time I jumped at the chance and got in contact with the production company through the press agency at our local ambassadors theatre.
I was offered a chance to speak to any of the radio cast but Geoff was perfect because there was only one interview I could find with him online and he grew up in York. Moreover after some research I was thrilled to discover that he had known Douglas Adams since his time at Cambridge so it was a delight to talk to him about his first impressions of the man as well as his own time in The Footlights.
When I rang Geoff in his hotel room while touring with a new stage version of the radio programme I was amazed at how fascinating and funny he was about the smallest things, be it the design flaws of Mercedes coaches to the best (and worst) things about hotels while touring; he told me Douglas Adams once described him as being able to talk about a pair of shoes for an hour.
As it happens I ended up speaking to Mr McGivern for almost 50 minutes in which time we chatted in depth about the recording of the original series, their reunion for the final radio series in 2003 (this time of course sadly without Douglas Adams) as well as his other work on programmes such as Chris Addison’s ‘Lab Rats’ and new BBC comedy ‘Dead Boss’ which he hoped would go far.
Furthermore we chatted about his opinion of the dramatizations of the novels and the fact that he cannot bring himself to watch the film version of Adams’ books while also touching on his time growing up in York and discovering his talent and desire for the dramatic after watching a performance at the York Theatre Royal where he would later work.
He also described the moment when he decided to relive his childhood and return to see his old school only to be confronted with the words ‘CARPET SALE’ in every classroom window; ‘no proustian moment for me!’
There was a lot of work in post-production on the interview as I grabbed at opportunistic moments of silence, such as Mr McGivern turning off Radio 3 to have him pick up ‘The Guide’ to give the interview a further element of fun to the interview as well as working in clips from his work across the decades to illustrate his points. I also cut the interview down to just over half an hour to improve the flow and pace of the piece.
The interview was well received by my peers at the university and when I was lucky enough to meet Geoff a couple of days later he graciously greeted me as an old friend and signed my programme ‘to the greatest interviewer in the galaxy’, something I shall treasure all my life.
Student Radio Awards Judges Comments
• Geoff is a gift of a guest and a wonderful speaker giving an insight into the Hitchhikers world. John was well prepared and didn't ask many questions but the ones he did were interesting. Nice creative use of clips to illustrate what he was saying - like the 'hello Arthur' line. I wanted to hear more.
• This is an interesting and entertaining interview. It has a light hearted feel and the interviewee responds well to John's questions which are clearly well researched and his enthusiasm for the subject comes across well. The interview is well edited and technically sound, and despite being over the phone is perfectly audible the whole way through. The interviewer made a good decision to include the interviewee's spontaneous remarks at the beginning - which sets a lively and engaging tone for the piece.
• Great interview which revealed some wonderful insights into a popular and well known radio series. Loved the question about Ford Prefect's name. It was well contextualised and was a delight to hear.
• The presenter has a nice voice and connected well with the interviewee.
• A good, informative interview with nice clear delivery.
• A relaxed interview, with good post-production.
Anthony Horowitz
You can hear the interview here: http://ury.york.ac.uk/uryplayer/podcasts/660/ (starting at 00:49)
Awards: One of only six nominations for the Best Interview Category at the National Student Radio Awards 2012
Anthony Horowitz has long been a favourite author of mine and since starting at University Radio York I have hoped to interview him. With the York Festival of Ideas this year and the discovery that he was speaking at the event I instantly got in contact with the organiser.
After a considerable amount of research reading I was thrilled to find out that he was not only an alumni at the university but had also been a very active member in Dramasoc, the university’s drama society, in which I am also involved. I thought it would be an interesting idea to take him back to the place where his writing began, the Dramabarn, which is still in use by the society today.
I contacted the society committee and negotiated with them and the organisers of the Festival of Ideas a time that would work for Mr Horowitz to come and see the building once again and it was a real pleasure to be able to lead him back into the building after thirty years and I was later told that he had been greatly looking forward to doing so.
For 40 minutes I spoke in depth with Mr Horowitz about his time at York and how it influenced and led to his later work from characters to locations. We also chatted about whether he felt he’d achieved his aspirations as a student working in that very theatre.
We talked about whether he felt he’d had an impact and Mr Horowitz revealed that it was hard for him to judge but that he valued moments when people spoke about how his writing had inspired and particularly his gratitude to the public outcry which followed the premature axing of his series ‘Foyles War’.
When we turned to speaking about Tintin he also spoke about how he’d initially been asked to write the dialogue for the game which, while he had found insulting, he had used as a door to becoming the eventual screenwriter of the sequel and joked that lines for AI characters in the game such as ‘have you read Stormbreaker? I hear it’s amazing!’ never made the final product.
In the light of Mr Horowitz’s completion of a second novel featuring Conan Doyle’s famous characters from the world of Sherlock Holmes, I asked whether he would consider completing Herge’s unfinished final book, ‘Tintin and Alpha Art’. His answer was that he had wished to for a long time but doubted it would happen because of the restrictions placed by the Herge estate but his passion for the novels came across as he described the final scene where Tintin is led off at gun point as one of the most powerful images of death ever seen.
It was a real pleasure to meet and interview Mr Horowitz and one, I am told by the official who assisted in arranging the interview initially, a time he enjoyed and was very impressed by.
Student Radio Awards Judges Feedback
• I was really impressed by this entry just from the excellent written submission. It's great that the audio entry lives up to it. The sense of place is fantastic thanks to the atmosphere - the quality of the audio recorded is wonderful despite being recorded on location and in some cases, walking with the interviewee. The relevance to the audience is balanced with more general questions which makes for a fascinating listen. This interview wouldn't be out of place as a feature on the Radio 2 Arts Show or Radio 4's Front Row!
• Great idea to take him back to where he began writing. It painted a picture in you mind with the sounds of the place. John really listened and picked up on what the interviewee was saying. Good, insightful listen.
• This is a very well researched and conducted interview which is engaging from the start. John has a clear interest for the subject and interviewee which comes across as genuinely enthusiastic yet professional. The location was used to great effect and together with some good editing created an excellent sense of space and added depth to the interview as a listening experience. Overall it was well produced. The subject was clearly put at ease and responded well to the questions as a result.
• Great idea to bring him back to the building, brings colour and character to a one on one interview. The presenter has an enthusiasm for the subject which comes through. Nice connection and questions.
• An interesting interview, good interviewing style and the presenter got really good content out of the subject. A very well positioned interview.
• A great interview. Loved this piece.
• Good narrative - combining the story and sound of return to York with the interview itself. Felt like it drew out some honest answers from Anthony Horowitz about his life and his writing.
• An interesting interview and one which the interviewer and interviewee connect and chat as friends - lovely and relaxed.
• A competent interview which was well-researched and put the interview at his ease.
Awards: One of only six nominations for the Best Interview Category at the National Student Radio Awards 2012
Anthony Horowitz has long been a favourite author of mine and since starting at University Radio York I have hoped to interview him. With the York Festival of Ideas this year and the discovery that he was speaking at the event I instantly got in contact with the organiser.
After a considerable amount of research reading I was thrilled to find out that he was not only an alumni at the university but had also been a very active member in Dramasoc, the university’s drama society, in which I am also involved. I thought it would be an interesting idea to take him back to the place where his writing began, the Dramabarn, which is still in use by the society today.
I contacted the society committee and negotiated with them and the organisers of the Festival of Ideas a time that would work for Mr Horowitz to come and see the building once again and it was a real pleasure to be able to lead him back into the building after thirty years and I was later told that he had been greatly looking forward to doing so.
For 40 minutes I spoke in depth with Mr Horowitz about his time at York and how it influenced and led to his later work from characters to locations. We also chatted about whether he felt he’d achieved his aspirations as a student working in that very theatre.
We talked about whether he felt he’d had an impact and Mr Horowitz revealed that it was hard for him to judge but that he valued moments when people spoke about how his writing had inspired and particularly his gratitude to the public outcry which followed the premature axing of his series ‘Foyles War’.
When we turned to speaking about Tintin he also spoke about how he’d initially been asked to write the dialogue for the game which, while he had found insulting, he had used as a door to becoming the eventual screenwriter of the sequel and joked that lines for AI characters in the game such as ‘have you read Stormbreaker? I hear it’s amazing!’ never made the final product.
In the light of Mr Horowitz’s completion of a second novel featuring Conan Doyle’s famous characters from the world of Sherlock Holmes, I asked whether he would consider completing Herge’s unfinished final book, ‘Tintin and Alpha Art’. His answer was that he had wished to for a long time but doubted it would happen because of the restrictions placed by the Herge estate but his passion for the novels came across as he described the final scene where Tintin is led off at gun point as one of the most powerful images of death ever seen.
It was a real pleasure to meet and interview Mr Horowitz and one, I am told by the official who assisted in arranging the interview initially, a time he enjoyed and was very impressed by.
Student Radio Awards Judges Feedback
• I was really impressed by this entry just from the excellent written submission. It's great that the audio entry lives up to it. The sense of place is fantastic thanks to the atmosphere - the quality of the audio recorded is wonderful despite being recorded on location and in some cases, walking with the interviewee. The relevance to the audience is balanced with more general questions which makes for a fascinating listen. This interview wouldn't be out of place as a feature on the Radio 2 Arts Show or Radio 4's Front Row!
• Great idea to take him back to where he began writing. It painted a picture in you mind with the sounds of the place. John really listened and picked up on what the interviewee was saying. Good, insightful listen.
• This is a very well researched and conducted interview which is engaging from the start. John has a clear interest for the subject and interviewee which comes across as genuinely enthusiastic yet professional. The location was used to great effect and together with some good editing created an excellent sense of space and added depth to the interview as a listening experience. Overall it was well produced. The subject was clearly put at ease and responded well to the questions as a result.
• Great idea to bring him back to the building, brings colour and character to a one on one interview. The presenter has an enthusiasm for the subject which comes through. Nice connection and questions.
• An interesting interview, good interviewing style and the presenter got really good content out of the subject. A very well positioned interview.
• A great interview. Loved this piece.
• Good narrative - combining the story and sound of return to York with the interview itself. Felt like it drew out some honest answers from Anthony Horowitz about his life and his writing.
• An interesting interview and one which the interviewer and interviewee connect and chat as friends - lovely and relaxed.
• A competent interview which was well-researched and put the interview at his ease.
Charles Chilton
You can hear the interview at: http://ury.york.ac.uk/uryplayer/podcasts/633/ (starting from 1:11)
Awards: York University Media Awards 2011: Best Interview (highly commended)
Aired on BBC Radio York and URY
I interviewed Charles Chilton, the first colloquial voice on the BBC in the 30s, legendary producer and the man behind Journey into Space and Oh What a Lovely War, in his home in Hampstead over a cup of tea. The interview was used for YorWorld our magazine show, and as part of a 3 part documentary series on the history of the radio which aired earlier this year.
Charles Chilton has always been an idol of mine as radio producer of renown and it was an absolute privilege to have the chance to interview him and meet him in his North London home.
I tracked him down by researching his life and finding out that he had at one point conducted walks of London in his retirement. After contacting the company and discovering that it was run by his son in law and he kindly put me in contact with Mr Chilton and I organised my interview directly with him.
When it came to researching the interview there was a huge amount of material to listen to and read as such an important figure in radio history and I chose to ask him about his life in broadcasting and the inspiration behind and surrounding some of his finest and most famous achievements.
The original interview was over half an hour long when edited down and included his experience with Spike Milligan before the Goons and how Peter Sellers and Spike argued continually argued during rehearsals. His relationship with Lord Reith in the early years of the BBC and what it was like watching the corporation develop since he joined in 1932.
The astonishing charisma of the man, now well into his nineties, was incredible and I was drawn in by his innate charm and passionate storytelling ability. It was an opportunity like no other to speak to someone who has defined broadcasting history in the 20th century and witnessed the BBC from its very early years.
Amongst other things we spoke about his childhood games (being arrested for making radios and interfering with everyone else’s sets), the role of radio and the power of Lord Reith as well as the ‘little green book and censorship of the 50s and 60s’, the effect of the war on his life and broadcasting.
More than anything it was an honour to meet the man and I feel that the fascination and love of radio he exudes transcends the radio and affects the listener as it has done with me.
Post Script
This interview was re-aired on BBC Radio York, alongside an interview with myself, upon Charles Chilton’s sad death in the beginning of 2013.
Awards: York University Media Awards 2011: Best Interview (highly commended)
Aired on BBC Radio York and URY
I interviewed Charles Chilton, the first colloquial voice on the BBC in the 30s, legendary producer and the man behind Journey into Space and Oh What a Lovely War, in his home in Hampstead over a cup of tea. The interview was used for YorWorld our magazine show, and as part of a 3 part documentary series on the history of the radio which aired earlier this year.
Charles Chilton has always been an idol of mine as radio producer of renown and it was an absolute privilege to have the chance to interview him and meet him in his North London home.
I tracked him down by researching his life and finding out that he had at one point conducted walks of London in his retirement. After contacting the company and discovering that it was run by his son in law and he kindly put me in contact with Mr Chilton and I organised my interview directly with him.
When it came to researching the interview there was a huge amount of material to listen to and read as such an important figure in radio history and I chose to ask him about his life in broadcasting and the inspiration behind and surrounding some of his finest and most famous achievements.
The original interview was over half an hour long when edited down and included his experience with Spike Milligan before the Goons and how Peter Sellers and Spike argued continually argued during rehearsals. His relationship with Lord Reith in the early years of the BBC and what it was like watching the corporation develop since he joined in 1932.
The astonishing charisma of the man, now well into his nineties, was incredible and I was drawn in by his innate charm and passionate storytelling ability. It was an opportunity like no other to speak to someone who has defined broadcasting history in the 20th century and witnessed the BBC from its very early years.
Amongst other things we spoke about his childhood games (being arrested for making radios and interfering with everyone else’s sets), the role of radio and the power of Lord Reith as well as the ‘little green book and censorship of the 50s and 60s’, the effect of the war on his life and broadcasting.
More than anything it was an honour to meet the man and I feel that the fascination and love of radio he exudes transcends the radio and affects the listener as it has done with me.
Post Script
This interview was re-aired on BBC Radio York, alongside an interview with myself, upon Charles Chilton’s sad death in the beginning of 2013.
Ronald Corp OBE
You can hear the full interview here: http://ury.york.ac.uk/uryplayer/podcasts/691/ (starts 42:56 in)
Awards: Best Feature/interview at the York University Media Awards 2012
I spoke to Ronald Corp OBE, renowned composer and conductor as well as founder of the New London Orchestra and the New London Children's Choir just after he had been awarded his OBE in the New Years Honors List.
We spoke in depth about his career in music, discovering his talent and some of his more quirky inspirations including a trip to London to see the orginal production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.
It was a pleasure to speak to Ron at a moment in his life when he was receiving his enormously deserved recognition and having just celebrated his birthday was a concert at the Royal Festival Hall.
Awards: Best Feature/interview at the York University Media Awards 2012
I spoke to Ronald Corp OBE, renowned composer and conductor as well as founder of the New London Orchestra and the New London Children's Choir just after he had been awarded his OBE in the New Years Honors List.
We spoke in depth about his career in music, discovering his talent and some of his more quirky inspirations including a trip to London to see the orginal production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 'Jesus Christ Superstar'.
It was a pleasure to speak to Ron at a moment in his life when he was receiving his enormously deserved recognition and having just celebrated his birthday was a concert at the Royal Festival Hall.
Mike Thomson
You can hear the interview here: http://ury.org.uk/uryplayer/podcasts/692/ (Starting from 1:04)
It was a privilege to be able to interview Mike Thomson, the BBC Today Programme’s Foreign Affairs Correspondent.
I made contact with Mike a year ago when I was doing interviews for a documentary series on the history and power of the radio and so it was a fantastic chance to speak to him more indepth about his work in more focus.
While initially it seems there is little about Mike available on line, looking through the Today Programme archives I found a wealth of his incredible, moving reports from all over the world. It was through listening to these that I decided to focus on his style of journalism and his personal experiences as well as the ethics of journalism.
This led to Mike, in the original 40 minute interview, recounting some incredible experiences and stories of human perseverance and survival. One moving moment is when he refers to the incredible humour that pervades in Zimbabwe which I unfortunately had to remove from the entry due to the time restriction.
I felt Mike was incredibly open about the emotional challenges he has faced and the responsibility of the media to tell stories after essentially putting interviewees knowingly in danger in their own country which I felt was incredibly enlightening.
Furthermore I also chose to ask about life as a journalist and Mike spent a considerable time both relating how he found his interest in broadcast journalism and his advice to students at the university as to how to our pursue a journalistic career.
It was an incredible experience speaking to Mike and I hope the interview was helpful to anyone who wished to become a journalist and fascinating for everyone.
Student Radio Awards Judges Comments
It was a privilege to be able to interview Mike Thomson, the BBC Today Programme’s Foreign Affairs Correspondent.
I made contact with Mike a year ago when I was doing interviews for a documentary series on the history and power of the radio and so it was a fantastic chance to speak to him more indepth about his work in more focus.
While initially it seems there is little about Mike available on line, looking through the Today Programme archives I found a wealth of his incredible, moving reports from all over the world. It was through listening to these that I decided to focus on his style of journalism and his personal experiences as well as the ethics of journalism.
This led to Mike, in the original 40 minute interview, recounting some incredible experiences and stories of human perseverance and survival. One moving moment is when he refers to the incredible humour that pervades in Zimbabwe which I unfortunately had to remove from the entry due to the time restriction.
I felt Mike was incredibly open about the emotional challenges he has faced and the responsibility of the media to tell stories after essentially putting interviewees knowingly in danger in their own country which I felt was incredibly enlightening.
Furthermore I also chose to ask about life as a journalist and Mike spent a considerable time both relating how he found his interest in broadcast journalism and his advice to students at the university as to how to our pursue a journalistic career.
It was an incredible experience speaking to Mike and I hope the interview was helpful to anyone who wished to become a journalist and fascinating for everyone.
Student Radio Awards Judges Comments
- John you obviously enjoy serious subject matter! Mike is an extremely interesting interviewee but you also handle him well, asking open questions and allowing him to talk without interruption.
Terry Deary
You can hear the interview here: http://ury.org.uk/uryplayer/podcasts/288/ (starting at 1:20)
Terry Deary has been a figure in so many people’s childhoods, until recently to many people this is simply a name on multitudes of book spines on a bedroom bookshelf. In-fact as Mr Deary alludes to in the interview the generation that first picked up his ‘Horrible Histories’ series are now going through university and many, to his horror, believe its thanks to his books.
I organised the interview directly with him after find his email on Mr Deary’s website and meeting him was to some extent incredibly surreal. Entering a medieval building in York city centre to find a room filled with Vikings, Romans and Terry Deary himself in full Victorian top hat and tails as Mr Pimm, an evil school master in Victorian York who murdered all his school children.
Of course Mr Deary did not bring this entourage of historical characters around with him in his daily life and I had a behind the scenes glimpse into ‘Tea Time Terrors with Terry’.
Sitting with this quite unassuming man it was incredible realising that this was a multimillion selling author and though I daren’t mention it, an inspiration for my own interest in history.
While initially Mr Deary felt like the same carefully contrived character presented to the children on audiobooks and so forth I felt the interview became more of a chat and he became more open and the façade lifted as we spoke.
In fact he spoke of his disdain for his own books, not only the subject, and how he felt publishers were flogging the series to death. Furthermore his emmense love and pride of his work and the television recent adaptations became clear as he saw the flourishing of his ideas into a multitude of mediums across the globe (although he was quick to remind me that ‘pride is a deadly sin’.
I was fascinated to learn of his opinions of history and historians as there had been a public argument between him and prominent historians recently in the press and I was keen to address those issues, and his joy and contempt in provoking anger from David Starkey carries across to the listener and continues to make me smile.
I found him hard to decipher as he came across at times as a humble man but one who declared himself ‘a genius in my own right’.
It was a great pleasure to meet a man whom so many students admire.
Terry Deary has been a figure in so many people’s childhoods, until recently to many people this is simply a name on multitudes of book spines on a bedroom bookshelf. In-fact as Mr Deary alludes to in the interview the generation that first picked up his ‘Horrible Histories’ series are now going through university and many, to his horror, believe its thanks to his books.
I organised the interview directly with him after find his email on Mr Deary’s website and meeting him was to some extent incredibly surreal. Entering a medieval building in York city centre to find a room filled with Vikings, Romans and Terry Deary himself in full Victorian top hat and tails as Mr Pimm, an evil school master in Victorian York who murdered all his school children.
Of course Mr Deary did not bring this entourage of historical characters around with him in his daily life and I had a behind the scenes glimpse into ‘Tea Time Terrors with Terry’.
Sitting with this quite unassuming man it was incredible realising that this was a multimillion selling author and though I daren’t mention it, an inspiration for my own interest in history.
While initially Mr Deary felt like the same carefully contrived character presented to the children on audiobooks and so forth I felt the interview became more of a chat and he became more open and the façade lifted as we spoke.
In fact he spoke of his disdain for his own books, not only the subject, and how he felt publishers were flogging the series to death. Furthermore his emmense love and pride of his work and the television recent adaptations became clear as he saw the flourishing of his ideas into a multitude of mediums across the globe (although he was quick to remind me that ‘pride is a deadly sin’.
I was fascinated to learn of his opinions of history and historians as there had been a public argument between him and prominent historians recently in the press and I was keen to address those issues, and his joy and contempt in provoking anger from David Starkey carries across to the listener and continues to make me smile.
I found him hard to decipher as he came across at times as a humble man but one who declared himself ‘a genius in my own right’.
It was a great pleasure to meet a man whom so many students admire.
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