What do Grant Mitchell, Noel Gallagher and Tony Blair have in common?

Let me tell you a story.

Grant Mitchell, I bet you get some stick for that. For the last 30 years, I've heard that phrase more then you'll care to imagine. Every time I go into a bank. Every time I'm in a Post Office. Every time I'm in the Doctors, those words send a shiver down my spine. His presence has been an unwanted constant throughout my life.

So when I received a call many moons ago whilst at my parents house, from someone claiming to be a journalist from national red top rag, the News of the World, I was taken aback. He was doing a feature for their Sunday supplement on ordinary people with famous names and wanted to feature me alongside some other unfortunate blokes called Noel Gallagher and Tony Blair!

Needless to say, I put the phone down. They rang again. Same response. And they rang again and again and again to the point that I eventually caved in.

So one Sunday morning, I received a call from a friend saying my feature was in, accompanied by an embarrassing photo which thankfully I can't find.

ME DOING A TALK AT A MARKETING STOCKPORT EVENT

As much as my association with the TV character has been a pain in the backside, I've learned to use it as an ice-breaker in talks and presentations and this story has always helped get a laugh and set the informal tone that feels natural to me.

If there's any useful outtake from this story it's that not taking yourself too seriously can help differentiate yourself from others and make you that little bit more memorable.

But having said that, I hope the scriptwriters kill him off soon, once and for all!