Exit interview

Bit of a John Nott moment this morning for BBC Radio 4's Today presenter Jim Naughtie during what appeared to be a recorded interview with GlaxoSmithKline chief executive Jean-Pierre Garnier about the company's bird flu vaccine. In a manner reminiscent of the way Nott, a former Tory defence minister, stormed off a live TV interview when Sir Robin Day called him a "here today gone tomorrow politician", Garnier's mood was not helped by Naughtie's style and the interview was abruptly terminated. It started when the Scottish Today anchor repeatedly asked Garnier whether his company would be making public its files on the trials of the controversial anti depressant drug Seroxat during the 7.32am interview. No matter how many times Naughtie asked him, Garnier gave the same response, insisting that his company had been open. But when towards the end of the interview Naughtie got his name wrong - he called him Jean-Paul - and wondered if his company was going to be "honest", the executive said he was "not interested in answering those questions" and bid Naughtie a very terse goodbye. Interview over. The indignant gasps of the programme's live anchors, John Humphrys and Evan Davies, were unmistakeable. You can listen to the fun and games again here.