It's a chilly Wednesday morning in May, and in my capacity as freelance entertainment news reporter for Radio One, I have a press launch to attend. Today, it's for the latest MTV reality show Totally Jodie Marsh: Who's Going To Take Her Up The Aisle? in which the glamour girl and former Big Brother hate figure searches the UK for a husband to marry in September. Mini-disc recorder and mic in hand, I make my way through London to Leicester Square where all will be revealed - including most of Jodie's body, as per usual.
The blushing bride-to-be is stood on top of a plywood wedding cake under a banner asking Will You Marry Me? She's "dressed" entirely in white, with two studded belts covering her nipples, a skimpy tutu, legwarmers and a tiara trailing a veil. It's quite a spectacle on a windswept weekday.
As I have to rush back my audio for the midday bulletin, I am allowed to be the first to interview her. It goes well I think. I thank her very much, sign the release form and head back to the studio. Fast forward to two weeks ago and MTV send me a preview DVD of the first episode saying Marsh isn't entirely complimentary about me and I really should see it before it's broadcast. I wasn't prepared for the horror about to unfold. I am made of stern stuff, but as I sat back at my desk afterwards, I had to muster all my strength not to cry. No-one has ever been so vicious to me before, let alone on national television.
The episode is cut to look as if I am the last person to interview her (ironic, in the light of the events of the last few weeks). I ask a few straightforward questions, including why she criticised Chantelle and Preston getting married for publicity reasons and is now doing the same thing.I'm polite, and not aggressive. She bats back the answers perfectly well.
Then, the show cuts straight to Jodie walking out of Leicester Square saying of me: "I actually wanted to punch her in the face. Lesbian, blatantly! That short hair! And butch, looks like a man . . . She was a bitch from hell, she was a complete cow."
That was broadcast to the nation yesterday and is available to download right now on MTV.co.uk. My boyfriend will be somewhat surprised about me being outed as a lesbian too, but more pertinently, and possibly actionably, she accuses me of unprofesionalism - skewing my questions because I'm jealous of her.
Amy Lamé, Stonewall supporter, broadcaster, writer and host of London lesbian and gay club Duckie, is appalled at Marsh's outburst. "It's homophobia, she's using the term 'lesbian' as something that's nasty and mean. It's so blinkered, that's what's so shocking.""
Journalist Niki Shisler, author or therealjodiemarsh.com, an expose of the star, is less surprised. "It's an absolute typical response towards anyone she sees as criticising her. She's a bully and she's spiteful." Executive producer Suzanne Readwin, asked why MTV decided to leave Marsh's tirade in the finished programme, replies: "In a reality show, journalists often become part of the story and on this occasion, the interview with Jodie formed part of the launch narrative. Jody became the voice of the viewer."
Now that I have got over the shock, I'm glad MTV left the offending clip in the show. It shows Marsh for what she really is. And perhaps next time I'll take a closer look at what rights I'm signing away on those release forms.