Thought I’d rename this weekly post as I wanted to talk about books and print media this week…

On Monday morning I got an email from the iTunes Festival to say that there had been some cancellations and 10 pairs of tickets were being made available for that night. I replied immediately but started to wonder when the replies might be sent - if I waited past lunchtime the chances of making it would be slim. I tried a few phone numbers and got nowhere so went to Durham station anyway, and then on to London.

A cancelled train, a 3 hour and 10 minute journey and a sprint through Central London got me to the Institute of Contempory Arts on The Mall. Two hours standing in the same place in unrelenting rain was completely worth it. It was also like a vision of what it might be like to own or use an Apple product.

Lots of running and standing in the rain, not sure of what’s going on, then being allowed into the warmth of the ICA where iTunes staff couldn’t be nicer and more welcoming. Being English and travelling 300+ miles to be there, I chatted with one of the smartly dressed guys who asked why I was such a big fan. On being given the ticket I was asked how I was today, and one of the guys asked how I enjoyed the gig on the way out. A fantastic evening, especially considering it was free to enter.

On the way home I finished reading Johnnie Walker’s Autobiography. I started reading on the way back from Birmingham, read another section on the way down on Monday, and then the rest on the way back up. I’ve never been that into books, but this one had me gripped from start to finish. Having only listened to Johnnie since 2005 the previous 35+ years are really painted well, and I only wish I’d heard more of his shows. In a few weeks I’ll be down in Harwich to hear Pirate BBC Essex on authentic MW frequencies, where Johnnie will at some point be presenting a show. Johnnie is also presenting whilst Terry Wogan is away on BBC Radio 2, 7.30am to 9.30am.

I didn’t watch much TV last week, but some things that looked interesting for next week… New episode of The Real Hustle, Monday, BBC Three at 8.30pm. Alistair Campbell will be on The Daily Show, Tuesday, More 4 at 8.30pm. Drop Dead Gorgeous was a great show on BBC Three last year and is shown again on Thursday, BBC One at 10.35pm. And Hollyoaks is really good at the moment.

On Tuesday I travelled to Birmingham for Johnnie Walker’s book signing. A few weeks back Johnnie was talking on Simon Mayo’s show and although some of the great stories he told aren’t in the book, it’s still well worth finding. Having heard a few documentaries and interviews he gave about the pirates, and then being a Drive Time listener it’s a fascinating commentary.

Johnnie Walker was a DJ on Radio England and then Radio Caroline, pirate radio stations in the 60’s. (If you’ve heard Richard Allinson do the non-stop oldies on Radio 2, the jingle samples a Swinging Radio England one). The Marine Broadcasting Offences Act came in on midnight, August 14th, 1967. Walker was the DJ on air at midnight and continued broadcasting despite the act now being law, joined by the audience of Radio London who had closed earlier that day.The act made it illegal for UK companies to advertise on the stations, and eventually due to non-payment of bills the ship was towed into the Netherlands. Following that Johnnie appeared on Radio 1, some American radio, Radio 1 again, Radio 5 and Radio 2 - I think there might be more.

I started reading on the train shortly after leaving Birmingham and didn’t put it down until Durham. It’s a very captivating read, very balanced and honest and it’s really easy to envisage the setting. Reading the early chapters I surprised myself how much I sympathised with the author - I honestly couldn’t stop reading.

I’m almost half way through, around the time of Johnnie driving a van around London having come off Caroline. I giggled when I read the description of someone overtaking him in an open top Jaguar in Shephards Bush (”It’s that flash bastard Simon Dee“) having seen The Story of Light Entertainment edition on radio last year.

Johnnie Walker presents a weekly show on BBC Radio 2, covers for Terry Wogan and will be on Pirate BBC Essex this August.