Writing a book is stressful enough in normal times, let alone during a global pandemic.
So, I feel a particularly heartfelt debt of gratitude to all those who have helped me get Wake Up produced in these unprecedented circumstances, led by the brilliant team at HarperCollins UK. From the moment I met with CEO Charlie Redmayne and Executive Publisher Oliver Malcolm in my local café last autumn to first discuss the idea for this book, I knew I was in perfect hands. Oli deserves particular praise for coming up with the concept for Wake Up and driving the writing process with such creative, challenging and perceptive oversight.
I’d also like to thank the following:
Zoe Berville, for her very thoughtful and skilful editing. It’s never easy to edit a former editor’s words but she and Oli did such a good job, I ended up applauding their barbaric cuts to my far longer first draft!
Tom Whiting, for his excellent copy-editing, and ‘Professor’ Mark Bolland, for his astute fact-checking.
Sales Director Tom Dunstan, Publicity Director Isabel Prodger, Marketing Communications Director Julie MacBrayne, Publishing Operations Director Simon Gerratt, Production Director Monica Green, Senior Production Controller Alan Cracknell, Editorial Director (Audio) Fionnuala Barrett, Audio Assistant Charlotte Brown and Senior Legal Advisor Arthur Heard, for all their much-appreciated contributions.
My literary agent Eugenie Furniss at 42, for her peerless negotiating skills and, thanks to her expert proofreading eye, for saving me from myself.
Rob McGibbon, my oldest friend in journalism, for his ever-valuable advice and vital ideas for the text.
Martin Clarke, Publisher of DMG Media, for his wise counsel and expert stewardship of my dailymail.com columns, where many of my opinions in this book were first aired.
Mail on Sunday editor Ted Verity and the paper’s Event magazine editor Andrew Davies, for their support with my weekly ‘Insider’ diary, which also provided me with much inspiration for Wake Up.
ITV’s Director of Television Kevin Lygo and Daytime supremo Emma Gormley, for letting me be me on air, even when the inevitable flak flies!
Susanna Reid, my long-suffering TV wife, for providing the eloquent counter-arguments to everything I say.
All my other colleagues at Good Morning Britain, who have worked so hard in very testing conditions during the pandemic – especially Dr Hilary Jones, our ever-present voice of medical reason.
My exceptional PA, Tracey Chapman, for making sure everything in my life happens, on time.
Alan Goldman and Lisa Robinson, for managing my business affairs with such care and professionalism.
My parents, for their ongoing unequivocal love and support in all that I do.
My actual wife Celia, for her extraordinary patience, serenity and unexpectedly splendid lockdown cooking, which sustained me through many a long writing session.
And my four children, Spencer, Stanley, Bertie and Elise, for their frequent, passionate and often very damning critiques of my opinions! I wouldn’t have it any other way.