This is Somerset --The Ashes series has begun in Australia and people around the world will be listening in to the action on BBC's Test Match Special. One man whose name is synonymous with both the radio programme and cricket is Henry Blofeld who, before leaving for Australia to commentate on the last three Tests, is doing a one-man show to promote his new book, Squeezing the Orange.
Tell us something about the new book…
It is half autobiography and half memoir. I find the older you get, the more you look back on your early life a bit differently – you blame less and you laugh more.
You realise the first 14 years of life are very important and I've written about them, and my rather extraordinary parents, and my very extraordinary background when you compare it with what happens today.
I thought the best thing was to dip into my life – so I've written three chapters about Test Match Special, a chapter about our amazing drive from London to Bombay in an old Rolls Royce, about going into the theatre late in life, about my health… On one occasion, I died eight times in one morning, but managed to hang on to the cliff to tell the story. On another occasion I fell under a bus when I was 17 and spent 28 days unconscious, which isn't a very good start to life.
Also I've had a word or two about the things I abominate today. If anyone says "Have a good day sir" or "Enjoy!" to me again, I will probably be had up for murder.
Talking of communicating, you are known for your eloquence – I imagine you were born with that, it must be in the genes?
I think so. My father was a very articulate chap, he had a very good speaking voice and he was very well read – much better than I am. And my brother John ended up as a High Court judge for 20 years and that requires a certain articulacy, doesn't it?
You mention your father – is it true that every journalist who's ever spoken to you has asked about his James Bond connection?
Absolutely true. My father and Ian Fleming went to school together and were friends. Ian once told me that when he started Thunderball he wanted an evil name – he couldn't think of one, went to bed scratching his head and woke in the morning still not thinking of one. He got into a taxi and went to his club in London, sank into a leather armchair and reached for the membership list, looked through it alphabetically for a name for a baddie – and was gobsmacked by a phalanx of three Blofelds.
In his own words he said: "I slammed the book shut, gave a yelp of delight, ordered a pint of champagne and never looked back!"
I must say, the Blofeld in the movie was stroking a white pussycat, but none of my family ever owned a white cat, though they may have stroked a few.
Your life could have been different without that bus. It finished your cricketing career, but then you almost played for England…
That was on my first commentating tour oversees – the 63/4 in India – and there were only ten fit men. In the end, vice captain Micky Stewart, who was very ill, got out of bed and played, then soon after got back into bed again. But I was inside half an hour of playing, which would have been quite exciting wouldn't it?
Nowadays so many commentators are ex-professional cricketers…
I think you're falling into the trap that many people do – there's a great difference between commentators and summarisers. On television they don't commentate, they don't say "He's coming in to bowl" because you can see it.
They don't describe the picture, because the picture does that for itself. But I'm saying "He comes in to bowl." People who do that are, first and foremost, professional broadcasters. The summarisers who come in between overs are the ex-cricketers who are admirably qualified to comment on what's going on.
As in my old friend Vic Marks?
Absolutely. I think he is the best summariser I have ever worked with – and I don't just say that because this is his area, I really seriously mean that.
When you commentate at the Somerset County Cricket Club you seem to enjoy the splendid scenery around you.
Oh yes. What one has got to remember is that cricket is only one type of activity mankind gets involved in – it's not the be all and end all of life. It's awfully important in cricket and in every aspect of life to keep looking beyond the boundary. To look at the whole picture.
I sometimes write opinion columns about ageism so feel guilty talking about this subject, but you are 74 – you belt around, you've got all this energy, you are about to get married again. What's your secret?
Never to feel sorry for yourself. I can't bear people who feel sorry for themselves. It is the worst thing in the world. Keep going. I enjoy life as much as I've ever done. I'm working, funnily enough, harder than I've ever done in my life. And I love it.
And you've got a really big day to look forward to.
On the third of December we get married (to fiancée Valeria Chianale). She is very beautiful, but she's also the bravest woman in the world. But it's the third time for both of us, so therefore a triumph of hope over experience.
Is the honeymoon going in an Australian direction – I believe you are commentating on the last three Tests?
We are going to Australia – we've had honeymoons before, so this is a working honeymoon. I am commentating and, heavens, looking forward to it. I would not be surprised if Australia won this one. I'm worried whether or not our batting will stand up. We will know a bit more about that after tomorrow.
Martin spoke to Henry on Thursday – his fears about the England batting turned out to be correct.
Henry Blofeld: TMA and All That will be at Dorchester Arts Centre tonight, November 23, and at Plymouth Pavilions tomorrow, November 24. Reported by This is 12 hours ago.