I was in town last week, which gave me a chance to see how dear old Sauchiehall Street was coming along. Once a premier Glasgow thoroughfare, now (still) a scene from 28 Days Later. Those poor little trees are being asked to do a lot of heavy lifting.

Outside Waterstones was a sign advertising an event in August. An author would be “in conversation” to punt their new book. Nothing remarkable there, save for the reaction of the man who took one look at the author’s photo, raised his eyes heavenwards and shook his head. It was as if whatever life had hurled his way so far, this took the absolute biscuit.

Who was that author? Boris Johnson, JD Vance, Sarah Vine? It was Nicola Sturgeon, whose publicity juggernaut for her memoirs is revving its engines and preparing to flatten all in its path. Says one blurb: “From a shy childhood in working-class Ayrshire to wielding power in the corridors of Holyrood, Scotland's longest-serving First Minister shares her incredible story.”

I’m guessing our man on Sauchiehall Street won’t be first in the queue for a signed copy. Ditto Rupert Everett, the actor, who used an interview with The Herald at the weekend to call Ms Sturgeon a “witch”.

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