I can read you like a book, and not a very good book. Especially no Bravo Two Zero by Andy McNabb, which actually improves with every read. I explain about incidentals and assure her the room HAS been paid for. She starts digging for a card. MFB: Well we should have just stayed at the other hotel! We really should have been told about the extra prices attached to this place. The older I get the more I notice how "common sense is not that common". It's impacts day to day life. How many people have no problem with stopping in the middle of the street to take a picture or to say hi to someone, or to cross a street without looking, or push a door that clearly says pull. How many people have no sense of spacial awareness whatsoever. I spend an embarrassing amount of my day just being bewildered at the complete stupidity of the general public. I travel a lot and it doesn't change depending on the city or country I am in, most people are completely oblivious about how to act in public. So many people cannot take social cues like when someone isn't listening to their story, or not to talk to someone if they have headphones in. Or people who just completely cannot comprehend that they made in fact be wrong, because everyone else around them must be wrong. I have so many examples and so little space. If you hate people too you'll have your own examples. The BBC is not a streaming service. All the big platforms do one thing only, and often do it well. But they have no obligations to provide factual news, research, or programmes that examine in detail social issues, eg File on 4.

Throughout the questions I will be remaining impartial at all times. I will remain Pontius Partridge.

As I read Polly Toynbee’s article on the government’s intention to end the BBC’s licence fee ( The BBC must defend itself with all its might against this mortal threat, 16 January), I felt a sense of despair rarely experienced in my 70-plus years on this earth. Once again, this government is continuing along the path taken by so many corrupt and failing states by taking away yet another fundamental pillar that helps create a strong democratic society – access to a fair, independent and balanced news media prepared to inform, educate and challenge. It does take A LOT of energy to fake it, though. It really burns me out.. but, it's all I know and, of course, the money.

You know what this room says to me? Aqua. Which is French for water. It's like being inside an enormous Fox's Glacier Mint, which again, to me, is a bonus.The BBC, with all its faults and failings, is one of this country’s glittering achievements – respected and valued worldwide. If we allow its voice to be diminished, the standing and reputation of this country will itself be greatly diminished. Given the Conservative party’s apparent inability to understand for what and for whom the BBC exists, isn’t it time to consider making parliament a subscription service? I realised I had nothing to worry about. The man was a perfect gentleman. But if you told me 25 years ago that I would be talking about rigid inflatable hulls with Dale Winton I would probably have spat at you.