New time management technique (see Saturday) in disarray due to desire to read Sunday papers and prepare brief for ITV who are picking me up at 11am. Succumb to croissants and papers so that only one of my three ‘planned’ hours prior to pick up survives. I am off to do the very last ever programme of ITV’s ‘The Week’ on congestion charging.

I am taken into make-up where Nick Ferrari (I would love a surname like Ferrari!) is being done. I ask to see his teeth – now legendary for their brilliant whiteness – so much so that it is rumoured you no longer need light, you just ask Nick to smile! He seems pretty jolly and gives me a private view of his pearly whites. They are completely perfect and shining bright in an American sort of a way.

But more generally at the studios there are mumblings and rumblings of unhappiness as ITV is cutting back – or more accurately – cutting out coverage of regional politics. The decline of coverage has gone from not that long ago 15 hours per week, to now – none after today. Taken together with the shift at London Tonight to become a more ‘magazine’ format – the relentless march of dumbing down continues.

While I am there, one of the newscasters grabs me and asks if I will do a news slot on the doubling of fines for fare dodgers. I am delighted – as this is one of the policies I pushed at the GLA. As ever, Ken was disparaging when I first mooted it publicly – and is now adopting it. He has done that with so many transport ideas I just don’t know how he will manage without me!

Back home to continue with rigorous timetable!