Jeremy Vine’s latest purchase is £2,000-worth of Brompton electric bike, the sort of grown-up toy that goes with a midlife crisis. Vine, who turned 53 in May, swears it’s more than a trinket.

“It’s my secret weapon!” he cries, hopping on to demonstrate its speed at the London hotel where we meet to discuss his new show. Folding it away, he says it will take him the two miles between BBC Broadcasting House and Channel 5, where he is about to start work, in 11 minutes. “It really does help speed you along,” he says happily.

This time next week, Vine begins his broadcasting high-wire act; two live shows, five days a week, in different locations with 45 minutes in between.

On Channel 5, he is taking over Matthew Wright’s current affairs phone-in and chat show, The Wright Stuff (which is to be renamed Jeremy Vine), which broadcasts from 9.15am to 11.15am, while continuing to host The Jeremy Vine Show on Radio 2, which starts at midday. So precision timing is crucial.

Only the most foolhardy, self-confident or hyperactive of performers would even attempt such a turnaround and Vine, who will also continue to present quiz show Eggheads, seems to be the latter. “It’s exciting, energising, it’s joyful!” he exclaims.