He had a love/hate relationship with the . He loved when he was offered a prestigious spot on a network show like Question Time, especially when his political career was in decline.
At other times, he would rage against output he did not like.
He was not happy that I interviewed, anonymously, one of the women who had accused him of sexual offences in court, after he had been acquitted of all charges.
It was not an attempt to re-try the case but a response to his claims of a political conspiracy. I am not sure he forgave me for that.
I travelled with him to Europe, the United States and China. I remember him turning up uncharacteristically early at the Forbidden City in Beijing to meet China’s vice-premier and finding himself locked out.
It would have made powerful TV footage but I don’t think we got it on camera. He thought we had captured this embarrassing moment and gave me a private briefing and a couple of scoops in the hope I wouldn’t use it.
