‘Michael Jackson’s kids?’ Johnny suggested after a moment. ‘The truth about life with him as a dad, growing up under a blanket, being swung from hotel windows?’

‘Ha!’ Matty laughed before she could stop herself.

‘Liam’s pretty keen on doing something on Lewis Hamilton,’ Clover said, putting the idea out there. ‘We’re having lunch with his agent next week.’

‘Ooh, get you,’ Johnny teased.

‘I’m not sure, though.’ She wrinkled her nose.

‘Why not?’ Matty queried, looking immediately thoughtful. ‘He’s won more world titles than anyone else, he’s got that dog he takes everywhere that’s Insta-famous. He’s a knight of the realm, but it’s BLM he bends the knee for . . .’ She shrugged. ‘And that’s just off the top of my pretty head.’

‘Hmm. Yeah.’

‘What? What’s wrong with it?’ Johnny asked, knowing she was distinctly unenthused.

‘Well, I know he’s interesting . . . I’ve just sort of got that feeling – was it Groucho Marx who said “I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member”?’

There was a puzzled pause.

‘. . . Is that your way of saying you don’t want to do a documentary on anyone who wants you to do a documentary on them?’ Johnny asked. ‘Because I’m pretty sure Matty’s just been explaining that speed-of-light production is only possible with a willing subject.’

Clover wrinkled her nose again. ‘I just don’t think we can compromise on the integrity of the subject. People coming to us with an agenda . . .’ She shook her head. ‘The stories most worth telling are sometimes also the best hidden. We’ve got to really dig.’

Johnny sat forward, his elbows on his thighs. ‘Oh. So to be clear, you’re now saying the brief is actually a hidden story, on someone who doesn’t want to be filmed.’

She grinned. ‘Basically.’

He looked across at Matty. ‘Piece of piss. What are you waiting for?’

Matty slumped back in her chair. ‘This is hardly fair.’

‘But Mats, you’re our chief researcher,’ he jibed.

She hitched up an eyebrow. ‘I’m the only researcher.’

‘You must have a list of Don’t Bothers, surely?’ Johnny pressed. ‘People we wouldn’t feature in a million years?’

‘Oh yeah! I’ve definitely got one of those!’

‘Well, let’s hear it then. Clearly, that’s our gold mine.’ Johnny shot Clover a thoroughly amused look. She threw him back a silent ‘ha-ha’ – but didn’t argue.

‘Ugh.’ Matty put down her mug and leaned across the table for her iPad. They watched as she swiped the screen a few times. ‘I’m warning you now. It’s mainly pariahs, despots and Tom Hanks.’

‘What’s wrong with Tom Hanks?’ Johnny protested.

‘He’s too damned nice! Why bother? There’s more edge on jelly than can be found on that man.’