that is the core to the character of jackson lamb.t is a sense in which we are always meant to ask the question how did he end up here? we might know a bit of the story but we don't know a bit of the story but we don't know the whole story. that is partly because i don't know it either yet. it was not deliberate to conceal his background, it was as you began to tease out his character you discovered as well there was a mystery about him which is a mystification you share with the reader? yes, the character was never meant to take the central role that he has come to do, but as soon as i started writing, there were opportunities there in terms of bringing that injection of humour into the books and also that larger—than—life character who has a past that is cloaked in mystery. the other fascinating thing about this story, and it is unusual, is you set it not just story, and it is unusual, is you set it notjust in the contemporary world in london principally where the threat of a terrorist act is ever present, but you have been very spe

if you've read any of the four mick herron novels featuring jackson lamb, you'll know what to expect.gery, lowlife and the threat of terror. a political class self—centred, often incompetent, sometimes corrupt. time is pressing, the threat is real, and jackson land's ramshackle outfits, never playing by the rules, has to try and save the day. welcome. jackson lamb and his merry men and women are a pretty rough lot, aren't they? sort of, they are ordinary people in many ways. i'm keen on these spies having ordinary lives in contemporary london. they don't lead gilded lives, they aren't pampered, they are under enormous pressure, there is a terrorist threat in this book. we'll go into that in some detail, but not too much in order not to spoil it. but they are rough in the way they deal with each other? what strikes me is that, very seldom, are they really nice to each other? very seldom, yes. but there are certain bonds that develop. not as a group, very much, but there are pairings throughout the series. and i like to think in the group scenes, i always have at least one scene where e

the only character i don't do that with is jackson lamb himself.e what he does and says but never what he thinks feels. to somebody who hasn't read the four preceding books and might perhaps pick up this one and go back, how would you describe jackson lamb? the best way of describing him would be to meet him. to enter his department of the secret service where all the failures get assigned. you have to go round the back of the building through the door thatjams and all the way up to the top attic and when you open the door you would find a very dark room was no natural light because he always has the blind down, and you would see a very large man with his feet up on the desk, the air would be noxious because he smokes and is aggressively flatulent. that's how he marks his territory. do you know jackson lamb well yet or are you still discovering him? still discovering him although in the book i am working on at the moment there is more revealed about him. are you going inside him for the first time? he is saying things he has not said before. what w

the only character they don't do that with is jackson lamb himself.s and says but never what he thinks feels. to somebody who hasn't read the four preceding books and might perhaps pick up this one and go back, how would you describe jackson lamb? the best way of describing him would be to meet him. to enter his department of the secret service were all the failure is get assigned. you have to go round the back of the building through the door that jams round the back of the building through the door thatjams and all the way up to the top attic and when you open the door you would find a very dark room was no natural light because yoghurt as the blind down, and you would see a very large man with his feet up on the desk, the aid would be noxious because he smokes and is aggressively flatule nt. smokes and is aggressively flatulent. that's a marxist territory. —— how he marks his territory. —— how he marks his territory. do you know jackson territory. —— how he marks his territory. do you knowjackson lamb well are you still discovering him? still disco

you've read any of the four mick herron novels featuring jackson lamb, you'll know what to expect. ackson land's ramshackle outfits, never playing by the rules, has to try and save the day. welcome. jackson land and his merry men and women are a pretty rough lots, aren't they? sort of, they are ordinary people in many ways. i'm keen on these spies having ordinary lives in contemporary london. they don't lead gilded lives, they aren't pampered, they are under enormous pressure, there is a terrorist threat in this book. will go into that in some detail, but not too much in order not to spoil it. but they are rough in the way they deal with each other? what strikes we is that, very seldom, are they really nice to each other? very seldom, yes. but there are certain bonds that develop. not as a group, very much, but there are pairings throughout the series. and i like to think in the group seems, i always have at least one scene where eve ryo ne have at least one scene where everyone is there always once. on those occasions, we do reach some kind of harmony, usually when working on a pro

the programme, my guest is the best selling writer, mick herron, with his new book on the luke jackson lambnd welcome to our look ahead to what the the papers will be bringing us tomorrow. with me are nigel nelson, political editor of the sunday mirror and political commentator, jo phillips. many of tomorrow's front pages are already in. we almost have an embarrassment of riches tonight! the observer investigates britain's prison system, claiming two—thirds of prisons are providing inmates with inadequate conditions or unacceptable treatment. the sunday express says theresa may has declared there will be "no going back" on brexit. the telegraph leads on claims prominent members of the labour party met eastern bloc agents during the cold war. the mail on sunday has an interview with brendon cox — the widower of murdered mpjo cox — who has stepped down from his role in two charities after admitting inappropriate behaviour with a colleague. the papers says he has also stepped down from two charities, set up in his late wife's memory. the sunday times says the education secretary is looking at

jackson is up first in connecticut. line for democrats. good morning. caller: good morning. thank you, brian lambc-span, and thank you to the moderators like you, jon, who do an outstanding job at moderating. one follow-up comment about representative himes, he was facing a lot of unfair criticism in the calls. when i speak to other democrats disgruntled about the current president what they tell me is where are the rising stars of the democrat party for the next generation of presidential nominees? i am from new york. democrat, butomo in connecticut we have representative himes, senator mark warner, of course, in virginia, and two representatives in houston, sheila jackson lee, a college colleague of mine, debt classmate of mine, -- classmate of mine, and adam schiff. there is a pool of like-minded democrats who will eventually president isge the in the process host: you say will eventually -- when will that happen, when do those folks step up and what is keeping them from stepping into those lows -- roles? caller: i think it is a very tough position to run for president, number one. , feel ther