David Dimbley will he hosting Question Time in Cambridge this evening

Home Secretary Charles Clarke

Home Secretary Charles Clarke faces a tough time tonight when he appears on BBC’s Question Time which is being recorded live in Cambridge.

Fellow guests include baby faced Shadow Chancellor George Osborne, the Lib Dem deputy leader Vincent Cable and journalist Janet Daley.

Charles Clarke will almost certainly be asked about his new measures due to be unveiled today which will give dangerous offenders released on probation tougher supervision to prevent them reoffending.

It comes following concern over recent cases in which criminals on probation carried out murders. But judges and probation officers have said the offender supervision system is already overloaded.

He may also be asked about the merger of Cambridgeshire police with his own local authority in Norfolk and neighbouring Suffolk. Both Cambs and Suffolk were vehemently against the idea, but the merger is planned to go ahead despite their objections.

Charles Clarke should be warned about Cambridge people. Local poet Rupert Brooke said Cambridge people “rarely smile” and were “urban, squat and packed with guile”.

Despite their Lib Dem leanings, they can also be very right wing and I expect he will be given a good pasting.

I was in the audience when the show was recorded in Cambridge last January and one of the hot topics was the right of householders to defend themselves against burglars. It was, surprisingly, the younger audience members who had the most forthright views on what action they would take to defend themselves.

Cambridge also attracts many unique residents and during my appearance on the show, I sat on the front row between a local poet who writes birthday card greetings to supplement his creativity and a very charming transexual, who was picked to pose a question.

My question was also picked (regarding the use of mobile phones for children), but as the warm up one so it was not recorded. And immediately afterwards, the show started in an incredibly slick and polished way. It is a great experience – and then a rush home to yourself on the telly.

I must conclude by confessing to having a secret crush on David Dimbleby, the thinking woman’s crumpet. He is amazingly charasmatic, very tall with the most piercing smile and has a very warm and genuine manner.

I shall be glued to my TV tonight to see who I recognise in the audience and how well the Home Secretary responds.