George Martin

THE PENTHOUSE mixing room at the top of Abbey Road Studios. We await Sir George Martin, who is 30 minutes late. "This is most unlike him," I'm told. Just then, he wanders in; little sign of infirmity at 80, good gait, firm handshake. After apologising for his tardiness he says: "Now I know what it feels like to be a prostitute." It's a rather disarming first utterance from one of your more distinguished heroes. "I've been standing on the street in Bayswater, staring into cars, trying to find a cab that was free."