Culture minister's unexpected TV appearance is no shoe-in!
The giant-sized lost trainers
Coalition ministers probably feel the need to be pretty nimble-footed with the media, especially on getting any positive message across about the government.
But full marks go to Ed Vaizey, the Culture Minister, and his completely unexpected appearance on an edition of BBC TV's East Midlands Today. It was during one of those quirky "and finally" stories.
This had nothing to do with the latest Coalition initiative or government policy shoe shuffle, but was in a report about a lost pair of super-sized trainers.
Culture Minister Ed Vaizey made an unexpected TV appearance
A pair of size 21 sports shoes - that really is BIG - had been handed into the lost property office of Derbyshire Police.
They were appealing for the owner to come forward. As is obligatory in such "and finally" tales beloved by regional TV, there was a vox pop sequence of street interviews with ordinary passers-by.
A handful of Derby citizens offered their amazed reactions to such an enormous pair.
"Surely, the owner must be a giant! It can't be right," said one bemused shopper. And there in the middle of the vox pop reactions, the Culture Minister too gave his considered - if brief - views on the super sized shoes.
"I've never met anyone who would wear such big shoes, but he or she should be easy to find," he told viewers. That was it!
The TV report made no reference to the Culture Minister or why he happened to be in Derby. He wasn't even named. But we can sleep easier in our beds at night. We now know the official government line on lost 21 sized trainers!
He was actually in Derby for the annual conference of British orchestras. Sadly, that just wasn't newsworthy enough, but an ambitious politician and a TV news camera crew are never parted for too long.
Perhaps when the shoes and their original owner are reunited, there'll be a photo op organised by Derbyshire police.
I look forward to a reappearance by the Culture Minister... and some neat footwork.
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Hello. My name is John Hess. I'm the BBC's Political Editor for the East Midlands and this blog will offer my musings on the political scene from Westminster to closer to home. 
