I come from Bristol, and my only job apart from writing was when, as a 15-year-old runaway, I briefly sold perfume in a chain chemist in central London. I was very good at it, but sadly I lasted only two months before the police spotted me and took me home. I figured then I needed something involving shorter hours, higher pay and less concentration, so I started planning to be a writer instead. I have earned my living solely by scribbling from the age of 17 to my current age of 51, and it's true what they say that if you do a job you love, you'll never work a day in your life. But some days, I still go off into a daydream when I get a whiff of Ma Griffe, and I think about what might have been...

The replacement of ‘The Radcliffe and Maconie Show’ by Jo Whiley is a blow to music-lovers, says SimonO’Hagan

Two inspiring, thoughtful programmes, and one annoying executive

Jo Whiley is leaving BBC Radio 1 after 17 years to begin a new show on Radio 2. She trades places with Mark Radcliffe and Stuart Maconie, whose Radio 2 evening show is being dropped after four years. The duo will switch to the digital station BBC 6 Music.

'I loved horse-riding over the hills in Ibiza'

There are certain films we are almost arm-locked into admiring

The sacking of the 66-year-old Arlene Phillips as a Strictly Come Dancing judge is described as "absolutely shocking" by the Equalities Minister Harriet Harman, who has been much more sanguine in her assessment of the benefits of the war in Afghanistan. These are the priorities of our age.

Jo Whiley is to be dropped from her prime Radio 1 morning slot after eight years, with Fearne Cotton taking over.

Umbrellas were the fashion accessory of choice at the world premiere of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in London this week.

It was the sunniest weekend in years. But who were the hits? What did the fans wear? And what were the stars Tweeting about on Worthy Farm?

BBC's star presenters told to expect 25% to 40% salary reductions as Thompson seeks efficiency savings

After five years in the wilderness, Tricky is staging a comeback. Matilda Egere-Cooper caught up with the voice of trip-hop about where he’s been – and why he thinks that Jo Whiley has got it in for him

Lily Allen's second album, Jude Law as Hamlet, Michael Sheen as Brian Clough, Martin Amis on feminism – 2009 promises a variety of treats in the arts. Our critics predict what will make waves in the coming months

Bond gets the better of White and Keys