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My work sometimes throws up some surreal moments. Add to that growing list the photoshoot I've just done in the of . A table, complete with table cloth, wine glasses and silverware, was set up in the quad and I took turns acting as a diner and a waiter with one of the university Welcome Centre's staff. Look out for the picture in the local press. The photoshoot was to publicise our Out to Lunch interview series at Queen's, which returns on Wednesday 23 January.

The idea is very simple: I interview some leading academic, cultural or political personality in the company of more than a hundred lunch guests, who also have the chance to put questions and engage in conversation. The whole thing was inspired and developed by Lynn Corken, and it's already proving enormously successful. Since beginning last October, I've interviewed distinguished historians Roy Foster and David Livingstone, and the writers Marie Jones and Sam McAughtry. We'd full houses for each event. In the new series, we'll be having lunch with the playwright Martin Lynch and the comedy writer and performer Nuala McKeever (on 23 January), the novelist Glenn Patterson and poet Sinead Morrissey (on 6 February), the community activist Baronness May Blood (on 27 February) and the historian Lord Bew (on 19 March).

Lunch is included and tickets are available in advance from the Queen's University Tel: 028 9097 5252. E-mail: queens.welcomecentre@qub.ac.uk.