I asked for a reply asap and this email was in my inbox when I woke up (hungover) this morning.
"Dear Mr Herring
The explanation for what is a serious mistake is a simple one. The article in the paper was not "made up". It was in fact written by Mr BRIAN Herring, but the same, unusual, surname in the context of the Playhouse, with which both Mr Herrings have connections, led to the Freudian slip. I have already apologised to Brian Herring, and would have got in touch with you, had I known how to reach you. So now that we are in touch, I offer my sincere apology for the mistake. I have already written an apology which will be published in this week's issue. Is this sufficient remedy for you, or would you wish me to publish your letter?
Regards
Peter Jeffery
Editor"
So it was all an innocent misunderstanding. I was being confused with that other well known TV writer and performer, Brian Herring. Brian Herring? What's he ever done? You'd think at least I would have heard of him before. He's been working in the entertainment industry almost exactly the same length of time as me and he has my unusual surname.
I sense there is more to Peter Jeffery than meets the eye and he can be sure that from now on I will be taking a very keen interest in his career and personally checking out every single story that he includes in his paper. And if he lies again, I will bring him down.
I told him I didn't want my letter published (I didn't tell him I was drunk when I wrote it, but he may have guessed!) and that I didn't require more than a correction to the mistake. Let's face it the piece wasn't calling for a race war or the murder of innocent children, but saying that it would be nice if a local theatre was properly funded. I can't really claim that it's damaged my reputation or made me look bad.
It was a weird thing though to have a lengthy article about something I didn't know anything about attributed to me.
The scariest thing was there was a part of me wondering if I had actually written it and was just going increasingly mental.
