This is as I wrote it, on the day, on my Palm Pilot. Therefore, there are bound to be some spelling and typing errors... it seems that I frequently miswrote 'g' as 'q'...

0828
I'm on the train. It's a beautiful clear morning as I exit Newark station' riding towards Leeds. I'm a little nervous, but also excited. Train takes one-and-a-bit hours to reach Leeds, so I'm in plenty of time. Rocking of train keeps jogging my Palm stylus, though. I keep mis-writing text...

0950
The train has stopped about a half-mile outside Leeds station because of "queueing due to engineering work". I have some blabbermouth on a mobile behind me, and someone playinq Indian music on his walkman loud enough for the entire carraige to hear in front. I'm just glad I caught the early train.

0952
Make that two blabbermouths behind me.

0953
No, make that three. This is like somethinq out of a bad comedy film.

1008
Train finally arrived, half an hour late... Now, to get a taxi to the studios...

1025
Arrived at YTV studios; checked in at home. Sitting on comfortable chair in reception; looks like I'm the first here. Just saw one of the contestant researchers go by (damn, I can't remember which one!) so I do at least know I'm in the right place.

Taxi cost £3, but at least I'm being reimbursed. Somehow I can't believe I'm actually here; I got quite nervous I wouldn't make it when the train kept stopping. I'm always like that, though.

1034
Ushered into YTV's coffee-lounge type thing ("Viva, coffee for life"). Someone who I probably should know from the TV, but don't, just walked by. I'm waiting for James, whoever that is.

1040
James arrived. Turns out the woman at reception sent the wrong person through, and he was in fact waiting for someone else entirely. I'm back at reception.

1041
Two people who look like Blockbusters contestants just walked in.

1044
Loads of contestants now.

1103
Researchers arrived; five contestants still missing. They said they'd be back in five minutes...

They oohed and aahed over a mascot lion for a while - just wait till they see Humphrey the Owl...!

1116
Into the dressinq room for male contestants - a comfortable room, chairs, wardrobe. Our clothes are to be screentested to see if any of them blend in.

1140
On to a briefing in the Green Room - the room outside the studio where the contestants 'relax'. It's a small, carpeted room with good lighting and a lot of chairs clustered round a TV link to the studio.

We recap over the rules and the etiquette of the game (buzz, wait for Liza to say your name, THEN answer).

1120
Onward to the studio - which is white! All the colour of the set is provided b lighting - from the floor to the desks. It's much smaller than you'd think, as well, with only five or six rows of audience seats.

I got a go on the buzzer, as did everyone else. It's red, large (half the size of the palm of my hand) and quite flat. Best way to hit it is to put both hands over and press.

1200
Lunch. And a short wait and chat with other contestants.

1240
Back to the dressing room to change into our show clothes, and wait for our call for...

1310
Make up. Yes, everyone. A bit of anti-shine powder on the face, a bit of concealer on the spots.

1340
Back for a long wait in the Green Room; I'm late in the running order, and there's a backlog from yesterday.

I accidentally bump into my banner-wielding "fan club" (can he win it? Yes he can). Immensely supportive, I just hope they're going to see me play.

So, I settle down to watch the afternoon session of recordings. The game that you see is pretty much the same as is played in the studio, with the removal of the occasional flub and technical hitch.

The warm-up man arrives - I don't know where they got him from, but I wish they'd send him back - and proceeds to loosen up the audience. He does a good job of it, actually.

Liza Tarbuck arrives - she's fantastic with the contestants, and really seems to enjoy the whole thinq. And the games are played.

1417
Recording begins.

1725
I'm called down to the studio to be wired up, as I'm the next single contestant to go up. On goes the wireless microphone, and I take a front row seat off to the side with one of the researchers and the next pair.

1745
The afternoon session is done. Off for some dinner and the Green Room.

1840
Back to make-up for a quick retouch.

1920
Back to studio for the evening session. I have one resilient group of supporters.

2025
The single before me goes out - I'M ON BLOCKBUSTERS!...

2026
...for one minute. The evening session wraps. But my supporters did see me on stage - if not being asked questions. Ah well. That's showbusiness...

2100
Off to a nearby Holiday Inn for a free bed and breakfast, ready to come back tomorrow.

2120
Goodniqht.

24/1/00
0830
Woken up by alarm clock. Get breakfast, prepare to go down into Leeds.

1000
Walk round the Leeds Industrial Museum. Nice place, worth a visit.

1130
Back to the studio. Sit through the briefing again - why not?

1400
And so the filming begins...