'It isn't as if I disappeared and became an estate agent'

On the eve of his 30th novel’s publication, the indefatigable Jeffrey Archer tells Chris Harvey about his regrets, thoughts on ageing and why he thinks Angela Rayner will lead Labour

- Jeffrey Archer

"When you work for Margaret Thatcher, you are either incredibly disciplined and hardworking, or you go home," says Jeffrey Archer, embarking on a story about the night he was with the then prime minister in Plymouth, where she spoke to the Tory faithful before flying back to London. "As we were walking towards the helicopter, she said, 'I'm not satisfied with the speech tonight, Jeffrey.""

He assured her that it was exactly the speech she should be making around the country. "She said, 'No, I'm not happy with it, Jeffrey. Perhaps we could have breakfast tomorrow morning and talk it through.' She gets in a helicopter. I'm in Plymouth!" He snorts as he recalls the looming six-hour drive to be there on time. "Come on," he says. "She knew exactly what she was doing." This by way of explanation for the hard work and discipline that has allowed this former deputy chair of the Conservative Party, life peer, amateur sprinter, art collector and bestselling novelist to reach a remarkable milestone. Next week will see the publication of his 30th novel.

His third and most famous, Kane & Abel (1979), has sold more copies than The Great Gatsby; his new one, End Game, turns on a Russian-Chinese plot to disrupt the 2012 London Olympics. It's rooted, he insists, in real events.