P is for Penthouse. That’s where I found Jeffrey Archer, in his famous penthouse apartment on the Thames flanked by his Monet, Lowry and Picassos. He welcomed me into his home to record an interview for my In Conversation podcast. It’s like Desert Island Discs only I get to ask the questions.

After a brief tour of his multi-million pound art collection (“Shoes off in the bedroom please, Mary’s concerned about the Chinese carpet”) we settled down to business.

I’ve interviewed over 130 people and my goal is always to find something new, get them off-script, willing to share a secret or two. Jeffrey Archer’s a tough nut to crack. He’s had too many people like me wheedling him for a juicy bit of gossip.

His friend, Barrie Humphries said, “We all, to some extent, reinvent ourselves. Jeffrey’s just gone to a bit more trouble.” I ask Jeffrey what he meant by that and he flatly tells me, “I have no idea”. “What did your wife mean when she said fidelity isn’t important in a marriage?” “I have no idea”.

Not a man to dwell on past mistakes (or even acknowledge them) Jeffrey Archer has plenty to feel happy about. He’s healthy, wealthy and has the satisfaction of being one of the country’s most successful writers. Not bad for a working class boy from the West Country. Say what you like about him but to many he’s a modern day hero, a survivor, living proof of the power of hard work and unshakable self-belief.

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