‘Wow, that’s brave,’ said John Kampfner, the former editor of the New Statesman. ‘I’d never do that.’ I had just told him I’d agreed to be on Have I Got News for You and, as soon as he said this, I began to have second thoughts.
‘Oh Christ. D’you think I’ve made a terrible mistake?’
‘It depends how quick-witted you are,’ he said.
He was right — and the truth is I’m not that quick on my feet. For instance, when I appeared on Question Time in 2005 I had to field one of those dreadful ‘funny’ questions at the end and completely fluffed it. The exchange went like this:
Audience member: If the two contenders for the Tory leadership were animals, what animals would they be?
David Dimbleby: OK, have we got any wits on the panel? Who’s got a quick answer? Toby Young?
Me: Er, two velociraptors disguised as teddy bears?
I have not been asked back since.
Get Britain's best politics newsletters
Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in