• But usually that’s how you drive on an Indian road.

I hope not to get hit when I drive on Indian roads.

• So Mark, back to the book. Is this the spiritual side to you? We know that you started out by being educated to be a theologian.

Yes, I did start out to be a priest in the Church of England and, I believe like you, had a pretty rough life as a journalist. It’s a rough and tough life.

• Spirituality and hacks don’t always go together. It reminds me of Wellington’s line about his army: “I think gin is the spirit of their patriotism.”

I am sure. I’ve done my bit... bars and things like that. Last thing I believe in is that spirituality should be any form of killjoy or anything like that. And I dislike excessive Puritanism, especially the sort of Puritanism you sometimes see in this country. I think it is deplorable in part for it actually denigrates religion, and makes you think religion is stupid.

• And your teachers figured you out early on that you weren’t the right candidate. Tell us what happened? Were you going to the pub too often.

No, in a church you preach from the pulpit. So the Bishop of Lincoln said to me: “I think Mark your place is more in the public house that in the pulpit.”

... contd.