Lunch in the Lords!

I was the guest of a very special friend, Lord Cotter whose son is a presenter on BBC Radio Gloucestershire, used to be my producer at BBC Radio Oxford and is now a very dear friend. Lord Cotter has been a LibDem MP for many years, and was elevated to the Lords just a couple of years ago. It was great fun to lunch in such splendid surroundings.

On the table to my left was Shirley Williams, David Steel was just a couple of feet away, and David Owen nearby, too! I remember thinking, I like it here. Dame Diamond has such a nice ring to it, don't you think?

Shirley Williams, Michael Dobbs and Emma Freud were all on the show today - because they're part of the upcoming Henley Literary Festival this week. Great authors and brilliant speakers - if you can still get a ticket!

Also on the show today, I spoke to Dr Paul Edmondson from the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. He joined me from the site of an archaeological dig in Stratford-on-Avon, investigating what remains of the great playwright's last house. I promised I'd include a link to their website on this blog - so here it is!