I've been fortunate in my working life to have met quite a number of famous people, some more impressive than others.
Former England cricket captain Lord Cowdrey, now deceased, who I encountered twice in very different circumstances, will probably always top my personal "impressed by" list. Actress Sue Johnson, formerly of Brookside and The Royle Family and more latterly of Downton Abbey, currently heads the other.
Meanwhile, I've never met David Mellor but I used to work with someone who knows him well. And my friend always had a reasonably positive view of him.
His words, which are prominent in today's media, therefore woke me with a start when I heard them on the radio early this morning.
If you haven't heard, the former Government minister turned talking head has been caught on tape describing a taxi driver as "sweaty, stupid little s**t" during an argument about the route the cab was taking.
Mr Mellor, who also told the driver to "f*** off," went on to add: "You’ve been driving a cab for 10 years, I’ve been in the Cabinet, I’m an award-winning broadcaster, I’m a Queen’s Counsel. You think that your experiences are anything compared to mine?"
Whilst one might fairly wonder why the cabbie had a tape recorder running in the first place, I'm personally glad that he did - if only because of the tweet it provoked from fellow Marmite man Piers Morgan.
And I quote: “This tape is outrageous. David Mellor, you’re a loathsome snob. I hope London’s black cab drivers now boycott David Mellor. Looks like he could do with a few walks anyway.”
Pot calling the kettle black? Most likely. But certainly close to the mark.