HELLO readers of the Bolton Evening News.

Being a Bolton lad, I've been asked to write a column on my life in London and the people I meet in the course of my work as a TV presenter.

This is the first of my offerings and I hope you enjoy reading it.

YOU may think life here is just one long party. Well, it's not but I do get to go out to the best places and rub shoulders with -- ooh -- loads of famous folk.

But I still have to work you know and last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Gary Lineker. Gary was filming the advert for a well known brand of crisps -- you've probably seen it on the telly -- and I popped down to the set to have a chat with him. What a nice bloke. Even if he did have a go at my hairstyle. I got him back by mentioning his rather large nose though. He took it in good faith. Top bloke.

When I'm not working I like to get out with my girlfriend, Tess Daley. Tess is one of the presenters on SMTV Live, the popular Saturday morning show.

Anyway, this week Tess and I went for dinner at Nobu -- a really trendy restaurant in London frequented by the rich and famous. But they let me in anyway.

We grabbed a table opposite a couple of chaps you might have heard of -- Michael Caine and Mel Gibson. Mel smiled when he saw me . . . or was it when he spotted Tess?

Then we were joined by Spice Girl, Emma Bunton who I've known for a while now. Emma is a really lovely girl, always smiling. It's back to work on Sunday. I present CH4's T4 on a Sunday morning so I have to be up really early. That doesn't stop me going out on a Saturday night though where I bump into all manner of famous folk. But more of that next week!