Um, I...I...

I do blush a lot and that's a circulation thing, not a moral thing,

though I do ACT guilty, um...

When I was a child, um...

my brother's hamster was put into a remote control...aeroplane.

Tragic consequences, and, um... unfortunately I was blamed for that,

though I had nothing to do with it. It was...it was that I just looked guilty,

so I would ask you... to bear that in mind.

Can you explain to us how communications works in government?

Well, um, I use an analogy.

Erm...

I like to think that dealing with the press

is not so much herding cats, it's more herding sheep,

and I am the shepherdess, um...if you like.

It's, it's... In order to be an efficient shepherdess,

one needs a number of things, I mean...

Firstly, one needs a whistle, that's my voice.

Secondly, one needs a coat, and that's my coat.

And thirdly, one needs a dog,

and that, in my case, is a lady called Robyn.

How was your relationship with Nicola Murray?

Professionally or personally?

Professionally. Not good.

And personally?

Not good. No, I mean she resented me, she was jealous of me, I think.

I mean, a lot of women are.

It's no secret that... Well, she's a woman who has issues, er...

Major issues.

I felt... If you want me to be truthful, I felt very sorry for her.

And your relationship with Peter Mannion?

Oh...

Yeah, very, very, very good.

Um, yes. Both professionally and personally.

Although of course, I... I draw a...you know, between the two.

But he's a lovely man to...work with, to be...to be with,

to be close to, and...