When the shocking news broke that singer Michael Jackson had died, the GMTV doc was one of the first UK medics to comment live on the story. We asked him how this frantic day panned out.

MORNING
‘I am woken up by the insistent alarm of my mobile phone and the strange vibration it makes on the bedside table. It is 4.30am. I had originally set it for 5.30am but the overnight producer had rung me at 4am to ask if I could cover a breaking news story about the King of Pop Michael Jackson’s sudden death. I had to get to the studio for the beginning of the news hour at 6am. A car is waiting for me outside at 5am so I jump in the shower, shave, dress and then read my brief in the car on the way to the GMTV studio.’

LIVE ON AIR
‘Reading information on my Blackberry in the car leaves me feeling queasy, but at least I should know what I’m talking about by the time I’m on air. With 15 minutes to spare when I arrive, I get a final brief,  a warning about the legal implications of speculating on the culpability of Jackson’s doctor, and then make-up. GMTV is one of the first sources for morning news that everyone wakes up to so a story like this is riveting. Other medics and journalists will be taking our lead which is very exciting.’

AFTER SHOW
‘We have a quick review of the programme and plan a rough schedule for the next day.  The original idea to cover a story about a new arthritis drug was shelved today in view of Michael Jackson’s death so it is resurrected for tomorrow. We have to find another case history as our original has other commitments. Patients fall over themselves to tell us their story on air. The director apologises for yelling expletives down my earpiece for talking right up to the ad break but I always know I’ll finish on time. ‘

AFTERNOON
‘After a quick bite – a bacon sandwich and a coffee because I feel I deserve it – I jump into another car to take me to Steve Wright’s Radio 2 show.  We talk about what makes us grow older, what causes hiccups, if the winter vomiting bug is an epidemic and if there’s a cure for tinnitus. It’s an eclectic mix of subjects and the show is one of the most listened-to in Europe. The audience loves the light-and-shade of the broadcast and Steve is a master. I then play squash with my brother, have two beers then it’s bed at 11pm.’