Chris Martin: The arts show is killing me

We were a little surprised that Radio 4 felt that Coldplay's new album was worth a show of its own - half an hour to fill on a band whose sales might be wide but whose presence is somewhat slight seemed a bit of a risk.

It didn't help that Chris Martin flounced off nine minutes in, leaving - oh, yes - the drummer in charge:

Martin appeared uncomfortable with the interview from the outset.

When asked about a speech he made at a music awards ceremony in 2005 where he said the band would be away "for a very long time", Martin said: "I always say stupid things and I think Radio 4 is the place that will most remind me of that."

It got worse:

Presenter Wilson questioned whether the new album - full title, Viva La Vida Or Death To All His Friends - was a morbid reflection of the band's lyrical obsession with death.

"I wouldn't agree with you there at all, no," said Martin.

"I'd say you're journalistically twisting me into saying something I don't really mean."

Oh, for god's sake, man, you're the singer in a mildly diverting pop group making songs for driving Honda Civics to, and you're being asked if your music is sometimes a little glum. It's not like you're the minister for defence and are being set up for a question about weapons of mass destruction. If you'd just answered 'yes' or 'no', it's not like John Wilson was about to then hit you with allegations that your morbidity had led to the death of those dolphins in Cornwall or anything. He was trying to find something interesting about your band, and you reacted like it was a trap.

Martin only stayed a few minutes after that, although he did return at the end to add this:

"Um....yes...yes, yes....exactly..."

Which, naturally, John Wilson twisted journalistically into making Martin claim responsibility for the death of John Lennon.

Given that Martin is clearly incapable of polite conversation, why on earth did he agree to do the show in the first place?

Perhaps he just got hacked off it wasn't Mark Lawson.