This is the earliest lunch ever!” exclaims Greg Dyke. I hear the cheery London tones a fraction before Dyke himself strides into the dining room of the Century Club in Soho, almost deserted at 12.07pm. He grabs my arm in greeting. The chairman of the English Football Association and the British Film Institute and the BBC’s former director-general (to mention just a few of his hats) blames himself for choosing the time.
Why so early? “I’m also chairman of the Ambassador Theatre Group, and we were launching our sponsorship opportunity this morning at eight.”
Does he have too many hats? “Well, it suits my brain really. I was never great at concentrating on one thing for very long.” But isn’t it a crazy life? Dyke appears to reflect, then replies: “Nah. It’s better than being bored.” Still, wouldn’t he rather spend – “my old age?” he interrupts. Dyke is 66. “No,” I add hastily, “but, you know, time in the south of France?”