"Weekend Wogan" goes into the first bend, and I'm bound to say that I'm thrilled at its reception. The reviews I've seen have been favourable, not to say flattering. There will always be begrudgers of course, but you can't please all the people all the time. Indeed, it seems that the more marked the rise, the greater the fall. I won't comment on the unfortunate Tiger Woods, but has ever a statement been so critically analysed? And when every "expert" had picked the bones out of every word, they criticised his shirt... Barack Obama's shares appear to be at a discount, too; Gordon Brown has been accused of duffing-up civil servants, and most of us have been sick with worry this weekend over Cheryl and Ashley. Jordan and the Cage-fighter are going to have their work cut out this week to get a single headline...

The welcoming headline on my return was: "Just like old times as Wogan hobbles back into action''. I'll take that, it's the best I'm going to get at my time of life...

I did it without a crutch this Sunday, you know. They gave me a standing ovation at the show's end. You can't beat the sympathy vote, as Gordon Brown said to me the other day. Interesting that David Cameron is to be interviewed by Alan Titchmarsh, as a riposte to Piers Morgan's chat with the Prime Minister. May we expect another show of naked emotion?

I hope that you're liking the music as much as me. Elio Pace and his girls and boys are lifting the roof, and I don't think Norah Jones, Jamie Cullum, Sharleen Spiteri and David Gray can be topped as live music guests for the first two shows. And Beth Nielsen Chapman and Carly Simon can be spotted in the near-distance. Hats off too, as ever, to dear Barrowlands for his choice of recorded music. Johnny Marsh fills the auditorium with his sea-salty charm, but how are we going to top Sir Ian and Lord Andrew? Be of good cheer, Peter Alliss could never be regarded as a step down in class.

The mail has been pouring in, hundreds an hour, all of it complimentary. Only a matter of time before it reverts to the time-honoured back-handed compliment, and downright insult...

Lars Dorders: "I was delighted to tune in and hear that the Billy Cotton Band Show had been restored to its rightful place on the Light Programme. One request, though: Can the band play "Somebody Stole My Gal" at the normal time, so my wife knows when to take the Yorkshires out of the oven? They were ruined last week"...

The famous Togs Voyage ups anchor on the 14th May from Southampton, oh arrr. Thanks to Cunard it made a ton of money for "Children in Need" last year, and this year, me hearties, it looks set fair to do even better. Alan Voice of the Balls Dedicoat, Barrowlands, Janet and John, Novecaine, the Loose Canon Royle, top Ecclesiastical Totty Scotty, and I'll be there Jim lad, to tip ye all the Black Spot. Tog or not, you can still book your passage. See 'charitygoods.com' at the bottom of this page... Take her into the wind, Mr Christian!

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