When the legendary BBC correspondent Martin Bell calls a book 'a great read that deserves to be widely read and acclaimed,' it's clearly an accolade that' isn't to be sniffed at. That said, what with Lisa Stansfield describing the same book as 'a really great loo read, even without Lou Reed,' sniffing's probably best left out of the equation. As I write, neither have yet appeared on Name Drop, Me? Never! the podcast. But there have been a few willing victims: Nicky Horne, Matthew Wright, Jon Moss, Tony Woodcock, Neil McCormick and Cleveland Watkiss have all dropped a few names for fun along with yours truly.

I'm not sure why, but for some bizarre reason, I'm continuously bumping into famous people — everywhere. From Hampstead pubs to Hamburg nightclubs, from backstage encounters to chance meetings on the Tube, I've amassed an extraordinary collection of celebrity encounters, spanning five decades. Ricky Gervais, John Malkovich, Salman Rushdie, Helena Bonham Carter, George Michael, John Hurt, Terry Gilliam, Lenny Henry, Peter Cook, Barbara Windsor, Pierce Brosnan, David Soul, Jurgen Klinsmann, Ian Wright — the list reads like a who's who.

But Name Drop, Me? Never! isn't mere celebrity name-dropping. I do attempt a dose of unflinching honesty and irreverent humour, to explore what fame does to people — how it changes them, elevates them or sometimes diminishes them. Some encounters are warm and wonderful. Others are awkward, disappointing — even cringeworthy.

Part memoir, part social commentary, the book is, I've been told, a funny, thoughtful and surprisingly moving exploration of fame, fandom and what happens when a gangly wannabe collides with the genuinely famous... if I don't say so myself. It's a fun book and entertaining read — as is the podcast. Have a peek: https://name-drop.uk/