Readers of this blog know that I don’t like to let many days pass without getting in a reference to cricket (although recent events in Australia have suggested significant rationing is in order). You might think I’d find it difficult to manoeuvre a link there from The Gospel According to Judas. However, the Good Lord (and I don’t mean Jeffrey Archer) is on my side in this instance.

Our senior managers are used to liaising with JA and find him exceptionally demanding but good fun. But there were some nerves about how to handle Archbishop Tutu, who had agreed to read the audio version of the book. Our South African company had booked a studio in Cape Town, hired sound engineers, and we flew out a director from the UK. After discussions with his PA, we set aside two days for reading, allowing breaks for his other duties. We thought it was tight.

In the event, he did it in one day, with a long lunch break for TV viewing. ‘I have to catch up with the cricket,’ he said. Here he is, reading and watching.

And, in line with his reputation, he charmed studio and publishing staff alike with his modesty and humour.

He said he was ‘chuffed’ to be asked to read the book – ‘but having my kind of complexion you wouldn't have noticed that I was blushing.’

What did he think of the book?

‘It's quite amazing, actually. I mean, it's so authentic. It sounds just like the kind of thing someone's son would do to try to rehabilitate their father's name. It seems to ring true. Lord Archer is gifted, but wanted to be quite sure that he didn't commit any "oops", and so got this collaboration with an outstanding New Testament scholar. Everything there will pass muster.’

I suppose publishers’ press releases can’t be written in that relaxed style, but that’s really just what we wanted to say. And I can't resist another Desmond Tutu photo looking like a great blues singer.