About James

I am, in no particular order, a radio presenter, journalist, reporter, producer and commentator. I’ve spent much of my working life working for the BBC, which would like me to tell you these are my thoughts and not its. There are more details on exactly what I do work-wise on the CV page.

Outside of work, I make up one half of the PodandChips.com podcast, which I do purely for my own amusement (and obviously, no-one else’s). I’m obsessed with music, attempting to build a vinyl and cd collection large enough to overly excite a record librarian. Some people’s pride and joy is their children – as I don’t have any, mine is my hifi. I know, it’s like High Fidelity come true.

After years being a lard-arse, I now spend my time trying not to be, but this diet will fail if I meet a banoffee pie or bacon sandwich. I drink too much tea, especially Yorkshire, Pig and Green.

I like gadgets and technical things too. Five years working in electrical retail means I pass on advice to family and friends when they’re buying a new tv, whether they want it or not. I also know far more about washing machines than any man my age should.

During my lifetime, I’d like to learn Spanish & French, how to cook properly (you know – with herbs and things), play the guitar, learn how to talk to women and see Newcastle United win a trophy. I appreciate at least two of these are at best highly unlikely.

If I were ever to appear on an idiot’s version of Mastermind, my specialist subjects would be The life and times of Nick Drake, and Dad’s Army. No, I don’t know why either.

My favourite book is Catch 22 by Joseph Heller, although I adore Haruki Murakami’s Norwegian Wood as well. I don’t watch many films, but give me a copy of Blazing Saddles or Airplane and I’ll laugh a lot. Give me a copy of Walk The Line, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Wall-E and I’ll cry like a big girl.

Just don’t ask me what my favourite album is… because it’ll take me ages to work it out and the answer will change every time anyway. But it’s probably a Beatles one, OK?