The excellent Simon Morris on Radio NZ related a story about Bowie the other day.

He was due to meet him and, as you can imagine, he was excited by the prospect and a little nervous. He was dared by a colleague to ask him the following question:

” What was the first single you really loved? (pause for answer) Now…what’s your REAL answer? ”

And he went through with it! I forget Bowie’s first answer ( I think he referenced a Jacques Brel song) but then he laughed and said “Purple People Eater”.

I’m a big fan of pithy, well-aimed questions. Bowie proved here what a damned fine, self-aware bloke he was.

Watching Mrs Merton on You Tube recently reminded me just how good she was at this kind of thing too. Would you have any examples?