Radio column: Lifting the spirits

At the tail end of Christmas Day many of you, like me, will have found yourself reflecting on life’s big questions.

Can my backside, which has been welded to an armchair since lunchtime, withstand two whole hours of Downtown Abbey?  Is it possible to retrieve the Malteser that rolled under the sofa in the middle of the Queen’s speech?  Can a person die from eating too many Mini Cheddars?

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Radio column: Seasonal sounds

Don't you love this time of year? The heady waft of mince pies, the sweet smiles of small children, the gentle sound of... Noddy Holder screaming "IT'S CHRIIIIIISTMAAAAAAAAAS" at the top of his lungs. When Noddy starts yelling on "Merry Xmas Everybody", even dogs smother their ears.
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Radio column: Strictly out of step

"It’s Saturday morning and it’s just gone 10 o’clock,” bellowed Vernon Kay, “and we are here! We are here! We are live!” Where, Vernon? I bellowed back from my kitchen.

Where are you? Admiring the sunrise from the top of mount Kilimanjaro? Hanging with the Rolling Stones at their mammoth 48-hour post-gig party? Hammering out a Middle East peace plan with Ban Ki-moon?

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