REVIEW: I HAVE a sneaking suspicion that if John Humphrys were made of chocolate, he would attempt to eat himself.

But that doesn't make him any less sincere in his desire to smash holes in the wall of pomposity and deceit built by the shower of charlatans we call politicians.

And it certainly doesn't make an evening in the company of the broadcaster and author any less enjoyable, as an Arts Centre audience discovered last night.

Interviewer Sue Pycroft wisely adopted the technique pioneered by Michael Parkinson when interviewing Billy Connolly keep the questions short and wait for the anecdotes to flow.

Here was a man clearly conscious of his own talent, and when a talent is so impressive, its owner can be forgiven a slight excess of "Look at Me!"

Politicians? "None of them very much likes answering the question they don't like it up 'em!"

Tony Blair? Tony, or at least Alastair Campbell, the most important person in the country, doesn't think John should be allowed to ask questions.

And if Humphrys is to be believed, Margaret Thatcher became rather fond of a tipple in the months following her downfall.

As well as politics, the interview ranged over Humphrys' profound environmentalist beliefs, his memories of covering the Aberfan disaster as a young reporter, and his joy at having a young son late in life.

The sell-out audience went away more than happy.