Paul Lambert, aka Gobby, was a BBC legend, a one man institution, the best fixer in the business, a man who had a better nose for a story than anyone else in the newsroom, a man so famous at Westminster there was once a social media campaign to re-instate his lobby pass.

He could also be infuriating: incapable of shutting up, of taking a hint, of being patient, a man who thought nothing of calling you up repeatedly, often in the middle of the night, to tell you something you already knew, starting always with the immortal words: "Have you heard?"

Paul was old school. He considered blank taxi receipts "as good as money". He once covered a Labour event at the Savoy Hotel, ordered tea at £25 a head & put it all on Tony Blair& #39;s bill. A multitasker: he could eat, smoke, doorstep a politician & buy a car all at the same time.

Only Paul could charm Cherie Blair into giving the BBC a lead story about her husband& #39;s future, only Paul could wind up John Prescott into giving a v sign, only Paul could earn a death stare from George Bush for asking the President if he was ashamed of himself.

Paul was like a journalistic platoon sergeant, ever willing to teach an ignorant young correspondent from The Times the ways of TV news, always ready to keep mistakes from the desk, with few crises that could not be solved by a cup of tea & a fag, or a pint in the Marquis.

Paul& #39;s death is a terrible shock and sadness. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52224513
I">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-5... shall miss him greatly. We shared the days. His spirit, if not his voice, will continue to echo through the streets of Westminster https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-23087269/downing-street-and-tv-politics-voice-of-paul-lambert">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/u...