Still waiting for my slot on Any Questions?

Read Martin's column every week in the Western Morning News

- 

THIS week the chair of a West-country village hall committee contacted me to say the BBC Any Questions? programme is likely to be aired from her establishment's new stage this August.

For a millisecond I was intrigued by her missive, as I've always wondered why the BBC never asks me to be a panellist on such programmes when they regularly (especially during what in London is known as the 'summer break') invite other columnists from large regional daily newspapers.

Perhaps this was going to be my big chance. I've been opining professionally for long enough, is what I tell myself with self-righteous vanity.

Then I remember my apparent lacking when it comes to the ability to take any subject seriously. I also recall the last time, years ago, when the BBC asked me onto one of its radio programmes...

I penned what I thought was an amusing column after BBC Radio Devon invited me down to Exeter to take part in its morning show which on that particular day was broadcast from a posh hotel in the city centre.

It's 60 miles to Exeter and I was feeling famished by the time I reached the hotel so early in the morning. Which is why I was not impressed as I watched the presenters stuffing bacon rolls and currant buns without offering me a single morsel. I wasn't even offered a cup of coffee. So I sat there feeling weak and faint and later wrote a column, taking the mickey out of local radio's meanness.