

The 60 Year Overnight Sensation
To overcome the boredom of lockdown, I wrote a book.
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This wasn't intended to be a public exercise, as my original motivation was to leave a testament as to my existence here on earth: with no wife and no children (no, I'm not, but thanks for asking), there was next to bugger all to leave behind.
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​After scouring the archives of my family history, what was found offered very few clues as to what my distant relatives 'got up to', and every paper trail seemed to stop, abruptly.​
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So, for future reference, just in case there is any doubt as to I did, then here it is:
“After failing my school exams with distinction, I had no idea what direction my life would take. A series of backstage jobs in London’s Theatreland led me to Elstree Studios, where I worked on Monty Python's The Meaning of Life. From there, I zigzagged through various roles until landing at the iconic BBC TV Centre in Wood Lane to work on Noel Edmonds' Late, Late Breakfast Show. Next stop: Wembley Stadium, as part of the team operating the giant TV screen for Queen: Live Magic.
A few years later, a chance encounter introduced me to what would become a lifelong passion: television news. Cutting my teeth and working alongside Westminster politics, I earned a secondment to Central TV's Cook Report before joining Sky News. My assignments took me to war-torn Bosnia and South Africa, where I witnessed Nelson Mandela’s historic election victory firsthand.
At The Associated Press (AP), I trained journalists and producers how to shoot and edit their own news footage - at the time, pioneering move. My bosses then sent me to sea aboard HMS Invincible, where I filmed Harrier jump jets in action. Reassigned to Paris, I embarked on a two-decade love affair with France - its culture, their cuisine, their people - and it all began with the tragic death of a princess.
The 1998 FIFA World Cup brought its unique party atmosphere to Paris, opening doors to interviews with presidents and world leaders. From there, my adventures continued: dodging David Bowie’s chewing gum, the Kosovo conflict, playing hide and seek with Ellen MacArthur, and breakfast with Lucius Malfoy ...”
Click the cover to find out more, or better still, order a copy from me.