Two very different interviews

• Reaksa Himm crawled out of the mass grave in which his family lay dead and escaped the killing fields of Cambodia when he was just 14 years old.

Being given the opportunity to talk to someone who had been through such a horrific experience that is so far removed from anything most of us could imagine made me feel so lucky to be in the job that I am.

Listening to Reaksa talk about the harrowing experience of watching his family – including his baby brother – being butchered to death and then later in life finding the extraordinary ability to forgive those who murdered them was upsetting, but also so very humbling and inspiring.

Although I was unable to attend his talk at the Spa Centre in Leamington, I did go on to read his books and encouraged others in my family to do the same. I do hope the Spa Centre will be hosting more inspirational people to share their experiences during the coming year.

• When the opportunity came up to interview the news master himself, John Humphrys, I (a big fan of the Today programme) grabbed it with both hands. But I was also quaking in my boots at the prospect of speaking to the man who began his career in journalism 26 years before I was born and is much feared by top politicians and chief executives across the UK. It was a real privilege to hear his insightful views first-hand and when I later went to see him talk at the Stratford Literary Festival, I was absolutely thrilled that he remembered our conversation and thought I was a “competent interviewer”. Words I shall indeed treasure.