Time Out at 40

See all Time Out's 40th birthday London heroes

Who are your London heroes?
'The person who put out the Fire of London. There’s a statue, known as the "Fat Boy" that stands where the fire finished at the Corner of Giltspur Street and Cock Lane. He’s hugging his chubby tummy – symbolizing the widespread belief at the time that London’s fire was retribution for Londoner’s greed and gluttony.'

What’s the biggest thing that’s happened in your field?
‘The coverage of the July 7 bombings. The coverage was in complete contrast with how we covered the IRA bombing campaign in the 1970s and ’80s. Then, we had no mobile phones and instead had huge walkie-talkies that had to be used in sight of the ITN building. On July 7, I went from site to site on my bike. I wasn’t scared, but shocked, although there was a sense of the inevitable about it.'
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What’s your favourite London moment?
‘It’s not exactly a favourite, but it is one of the most memorable. I was standing in the Mall one day just after Princess Diana’s death and before the funeral, and there was this incredible feeling of hysteria. I couldn’t tell what was going on: it was part Hollywood emotion, part private grief and probably a mix of the two. There must have been many people who were there around that time, who look back and think "What on earth was I doing there?" '

What does Time Out mean to you?
‘Connection, opportunity and trust. I first used TO when I first moved to London aged 20, and I’ve used it ever since.'

Best party?
'At the Saatchi Gallery a few years ago for an opening, and people had been asked to come naked. There were a vast number of naked people around and it was the most bizarre experience. I felt enormous pressure to take my clothes off – but I didn’t.’

See all Time Out's 40th birthday London heroes