B4 SPOTLIGHT blue water between us and what had gone before. It was also a sign of honesty and trust. We were clearly communicating with our readers and it went down incredibly well.” This was clearly a big risk so early in his new job. His move could have been interpreted as an apology for his staff’s ability, saying they ‘would do better’. But, Geordie is quick to counter this allegation. “It was in no way meant as a diminution of the talent of the staff. In fact, a lot of them felt quite excited that there was an acknowledgment of the need to be more positive.” Geordie Greig’s devotion to the written word was born as a young schoolboy at Eton, where sheer determination and persistence were rewarded with audiences from, amongst others, Spike Milligan, Ted Hughes, Andy Warhol, David Niven and Joanna Lumley. “No one fazed me. I always found a great excitement and satisfaction asking questions and getting answers. I always want to ask the most interesting people questions, and everyone has an interesting story, irrespective of whether or not they are in the public eye, and that, to me, has always been the key factor.” A regular breakfast meeting with Lucian Freud, frequent visits to Downing Street, attending concerts or the opera are regular occurrences for this flamboyant, yet engaging, character. Counting Madonna, JK Rowling, Elton John and Mikhail Gorbachev amongst those he has interviewed, his new role at the London Evening Standard won’t curtail his passion. “I recently interviewed the painter Frank Auerbach and Burberry’s Chief Executive, Angela Ahrendts, together with the Creative Director, Christopher Bailey. I drink in the variety and that is what I love about life…….I am very lucky to have that.” His secret is to ‘never network purposefully’. “Let it happen naturally.” He declares. However, does Geordie feel this latest move is the next step towards the demise of the daily newspaper, and the possible curtailment of his feverish networking activity? “Definitely not. I was at a dinner last night with the owner of The Telegraph, the head of Radio 4, the head of Condé Nast, and the former editor of The Sunday Times, and everyone, to a man, agreed that there was a good and exciting future for newspapers and magazines.” You wouldn’t like to bet against Geordie Greig practicing what he preaches, after all, he most certainly has a way with words. www.thisislondon.co.uk
“I drink in the variety and that is what I love about life”
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