"December 2004. An article in a Surrey newspaper claims that, aged 18, Tony Blair ran a rock promotions company organising gigs for teenagers at a Richmond church hall. A photograph accompanies the piece: there he stands, our prime minister, posing in tie-dyed T-shirt, midriff exposed, long hair, flares and bare feet. It's a daft look, but it's him all right. No question about it.

When you're a TV producer, you're always on the look-out for original ideas for drama documentaries and my instincts tell me this could be a great story. Initial research reveals Blair was a bit of a teenage tearaway. After a final school term involving near-expulsion and a bloody good caning, the future PM took a year off (1971-72) between public school and Oxford University, travelling to London with dreams of rock stardom. He worked relentlessly towards his goal, which culminated three years later with his debut as lead singer of student band Ugly Rumours."