And you thought life as a sports journo was easy

One of the more helpful types you encounter along the road in this job is Mr Why Don’t You Talk To.

Mr WDYTT always has an interview target for you, someone who’s surely worth speaking to if only you’d bother.

“It’s always the big stars, isn’t it?” is the usual kick-off. “The names, the headline acts. Sure they’re all played out. Sick of listening to them peddle the same line all the time, when they’re not pushing some product or other. Go off-Broadway, that’s what I say. Off-off-Broadway if you can.”