Presenters

Most people have cottoned on to the fact that writing to someone in the BBC is quite straight forward. It's a simple formula to work out a workable email address.

This is why I've had the most charming messages from people proclaiming how they've been inspired by my, well actually, my alter ego's efforts in the sporting world.

Me, myself and Sir Steven

From invites to numerous charity events and a even a request to visit the hospitality tent of the Government's officials in Beijing during the 2008 Olympics, I always politely write back saying that my radio work comes first and sadly have no gold medals hanging over the mantelpiece.

Even my colleagues at the BBC sometimes make a mistake, it's quite interesting to compare how people write to their intended audience. All I can say is, if someone offers you a knighthood, best probably take it.

Sir Steve and I once appeared on television together. Not really, Steven (I'm actually a Stephen - Stephen's get sniffy if you make them Steven) was interviewed on Yorkshire and Lincolnshire's Look North regional TV programme and some overly keen producer in the world of TV put up an old picture of me for Steve's amusement. Suffice to say Steve and I have never exchanged cards at the holidays.

Earth moving experience

Strangely there was a time when they got it right and I got it wrong.

Hard to believe that one of my late night radio shows became quite literally an earth moving experience. A mini-earthquake shook the studios just as we were closing down for the night.

The switchboard, lit up like a Christmas tree and suddenly we were deluged with calls from concerned people who'd been woken unexpectedly from their slumbers. For a couple of hours we took calls on air and tried to get to the bottom of what had happened. Mercifully no-one was critically injured and most homes escaped with a few broken pots.

Shortly after, I received a message saying I was invited to meet the man at the top for my broadcasting efforts during the year. Going on past experience, I of course took it to mean that Sir Steven Redgrave was being recognised for his contribution with the broadcast team on the far side of the world at the Olympics.

I was on a short break whilst the correspondence was in cyberspace so missed out on a personal thank you for my seismic event.

Wakey wakey

Hopefully I'll be stirring you from your slumbers each weekday morning with something less jarring than an earthquake, but don't blame me if you fall out of bed whilst trying to turn the alarm clock to snooze mode.