So by the time I write this, you will have (I hope!) seen the final interview of my career. I’m thrilled it was with none other than my good friend and political hero, Nigel Farage, who, as he told me, is on course to become the next Prime Minister of Great Britain.
I interviewed Nigel last week on a warm, sunny day in my beautiful garden, the perfect setting for our 20-minute chat. We’ve known each other for at least two decades, so it seemed highly fitting that he should be my last broadcast interview.
I must’ve talked to thousands of people over the last 52 years – maybe even tens of thousands – but Nigel is one of my favourites. Unlike most politicians, he’s never less than 100% honest and frank. Which is why he cuts through to the public.
You may not agree with him, but you know he’s not going to tell you a load of porkies.
He told me that, if he wasn’t a politician, he’d like to run a smallholding with ducks and geese or be a fisherman. Frankly, I think he’d miss the cut and thrust of politics and Westminster. But this is another part of his appeal; he doesn’t have to do any of this.
He’s wealthy enough to retire but he cares deeply about our country – enough to put himself through the hellscape of politics.
I can’t think of a better sign-off for my broadcasting career than speaking to the man I am convinced will be PM when Sir Keir gets his marching orders from the public. I’m sorry I won’t be around to see him save Britain. But it’s comforting to know it will be in safe hands – eventually!
“If I’m the bookies’ favourite to be prime minister, which I am, it doesn’t say much for the rest of them does it really?” Nigel jokes. “But we have a chance of doing something genuinely historic, really genuinely historic, and there’s momentum out there, there’s an optimism out there. They’re gonna throw everything they’ve got at us, but I think we’re going to do it and I’m certainly not even contemplating failure.”
Good luck, Nigel! You can do it.