Raef said later that his real ambition was to be a talk show host so we took him up on it and invited him on to our programme this week for a live audition. We set him up with fellow Daily Express columnist Vanessa Feltz – now there’s a tough assignment for you.

Vanessa is nobody’s pushover and when Raef jokily, if a tad unwisely, compared her to Robert Mugabe (in his opening question!) she shredded the poor lad. Undaunted, Raef kept his poise and pressed on, making a fair fist of his first TV interview.

The panel of judges – showbiz agent Jonathan Shalit, culture vulture Joan Bakewell and shock-jock radio host Nick Ferrari – were none too kind in their verdicts but conceded that Raef had shown promise.

Our viewers went further. “Real talent and ability”, “He did incredibly well” and “Phwoar Raef!” were typical of the e-mails.

So Raef is in business. We asked him back the next night and gave him his first assignment for Richard and Judy. He had to take the Borat Mankini – new male beachwear that is modelled on the bizarre one-piece worn by Sacha Baron Cohen’s character – on to the streets for public inspection.

Raef’s subsequent report was hilarious. The guy’s a natural.

Expect to see more of him on your screens in future.