The only think I don't like about doing vox pops is getting the levels, if I didn't have to think about all the technical side and just going out and talking to people they're great fun, but your just constantly thinking; oh my god my levels aren't right and running around.
I want a range of people to start off with, so you know I want some woman, men, perhaps some younger people, and some older people.
Older people are better than younger people, unless you get younger people in pairs, then it's quite good. And people wearing purple are terrible.
Friendly drunk is always very good.
So where are the vox pop epicentres of Britain then?
The sort of more working class areas, where people are quite happy to chat, and wanting to talk, you know you find a couple of, of nice old ladies like my Granny who've just come out of Tescos and they're quite happy to chat I find.
Birmingham is not good for vox pops, Newcastle is brilliant. If there's an Irish population that's normally really good.
Don't ask the person, 'may you record them' just stick the Mic up to them and say: 'What do you think of?' Otherwise they'll say: oh no no, I can't possibly, you really must be brutal.
I've been a journalist for 21 years and I've done vox pops for print, and vox pops for radio and I still hate them!
Is it true that people that wear purple are usually the worse speakers?
Yeah that is true, yeah,
yeah, and they're dangerous as well.