After an exhausting journey back to London on Monday I somehow managed to blast the dirt off and make it down to the Peacock theatre to hear Mandelson in conversation with a Times journo to discuss his new book, The Third Man.

To see Mandelson in the flesh was pretty exciting. For political geeks such as myself, the experience was akin to seeing a rock star up close. What is most noticeable about his delivery and his body language was the ease with which he held himself. He is so calm, languorous in his movements and simply nothing can ruffle his composure.

There was one moment where I thought this carefully built edifice would crumble when a member of the audience posed a particularly taxing question; 'Have you ever played the game, shoot, shag marry?' The questioner asked Lord Mandelson of Foy how he would deal with Cameron, Clegg and Osbourne with the above stipulations. Quite how he was able to dodge the question, without it feeling like a cop out was amazing. He invoked Reinaldo, his partner to deflect the audience, saying that the Brazillian would shoot him if he either married or shagged someone else. It was a nice insight into his personal life which is often lacking with him and he didn't lose face by having to admit he would shag Cameron et al.

There weren't enough pertinent questions for MAndelson he was on home ground, the audience was full of Westminster types, worthy Labour supporters and what seemed like a handful of researchers. Half an hour after leaving the talk did I actually think of some tough questions I should have asked myself. But the shame, the utter humiliation to be brushed aside or belittled by the Prince of Darkness himself if the question fell short of his standards.