and his father, geoffrey, who was a junior minister in the liberal government the last time the liberals were in coalition — was very worried about it and was very upset about it because suddenly his child was short. the reason i mention the grandfather first because isn't it the case that it was the grandfather's genetic mutation which he was not aware of? that is right. which he then passed on to your father, his son? exactly, you are quite right, stephen, sorry. in fact, 60% of people who are born with my condition are born to average height parents. anybody who watches this programme who is themselves average height or even tall could have a short child. obviously, myself, i have a 50—50 chance of a short child and, indeed, my father had an average height child