Socks Scandal
Another fantastic night at the City Halls in Glasgow as Gaelic singer Catriona Watt won the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year competition. For the first time we decided to transmit the whole event live on radio. Everything went smoothly and the performances from all six finalists were terrific.
I was on stage at the start of the night to make a few remarks about what will be happening on radio, television and online as part of Scotland's Music 07. I then handed over to Jack McConnell who later told me that , as a small boy, had he played the accordion. The look of frustration on his face told its own story. He admitted that he had never really mastered the instrument. I reminded him that the event was live on the radio and that if we had time to fill I could invite him on to the stage, hand him an accordion and see if he could give us a tune. I'm sure I saw a glimmer of fear in his eyes.
Anyway, I made my speech and thought I'd got away with it. Then came the interval and a tap on my shoulder from my boss Maggie Cunningham.
"Your trouser leg, " she whispered, "is tucked in to your sock."
You see this is what happens when you drive from Inverness to Glasgow and decide to get changed in the toilets of the . I sorted my wardrobe malfunction with the kind of subtle movement I usually reserve for singing the Hokey-Cokey. I then became obsessed with my socks. At the end of the night I was invited back on stage to open the golden envelope and reveal the winner's name.
Of course I climbed the steps on the stage while shaking each leg like a mad Freemason.
"And the winner is.....Catriona Watt."
All eyes turned to Catriona who looked so shocked I thought she might keel over. Presenter Mary-Anne Kennedy told her she could have a minute or two to "get her act together". That she did and she impressed us all with two final songs.
As I shuffled off the stage I stole a glance at my shoes.
My laces were undone.
