Simon Mayo: From spinning discs to writing page-turners

He didn't even realise he had a book in him until a fruitless search for a science adventure book for his young son Joe spurred him on to write his own.

And so it opened a new chapter in his career.

The BBC Radio 2 and 5 Live presenter – now also children's author – has just released his second children's novel – Itch Rocks – an eagerly anticipated follow-up to the award-winning Itch.

It tells of the adventures of a 14-year-old boy whose hobby of collecting all the elements from the periodic table lands him into all sorts of bother and takes him on all sorts of adventures.

"At 5 Live we made a deliberate point of trying to tackle science properly because I thought it was one of those areas that was poorly covered," he said.

At the same time his son, an avid reader, who was ten at the time, also became interested in science and history. Simon said: "Having a bit more time on my hands and having failed to find a good story that took in the elements of life he was interested in, I decided to write a short story for him."

Research led him to the phrase – element hunter.

"What boy or girl wouldn't like to be an element hunter?" he says.

"I did as much research as I possibly could and no one had written the adventures of an element hunter."

And so it began.

Simon's 'short story' soon became a 400-page children's adventure novel.

"A parent can tell when their child isn't telling the truth.

"I could tell Joe really enjoyed it and so I thought that maybe there is something else that I could do with it."

The rest they say is history.

The story of science-mad 14-year-old Itchingham Lofte hit and subsequently flew off the bookshelves.

It earned him a nomination for the Carnegie Medal, an annual award for the writer of an outstanding book for children and the Branford Boase award for children's authors.

Right now he is touring the country promoting its sequel – Itch Rocks.

And where better than at Shrewsbury Children's Bookfest – an event that inspires children to read and which allows them to come face-to-face with some of their favourite authors.

He was today's star turn at the event, which takes place from May 3 to May 6, alongside other children's favourites including Ian Whybrow, author of the Harry and the Bucketful of Dinosaurs adventures and Michael Morpurgo, a former Children's Laureate.

Also appearing at the Bookfest is Jonny Duddle, the illustrator from the hit film The Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists.

"One of the great things for me is seeing the people that are reading the books and their parents," says Simon, who has worked for BBC radio since 1981.

"The thing about book festivals, and I also do lots of school visits, is that everyone remembers the impact of a fantastic book – when you find something and you completely disappear into it.

"And when you see boys and girls really into the story and asking questions, it is really, really something."

The children's book that made him "disappear" was discovered: "When I was that age, the only thing I can remember was that a favourite was the Willard Price books, about two boys who went around the world collecting animals for their zoo," he said

So what comes next – more adventures for Itch or even a novel for the older reader?

"I am writing the third one at the moment. I think there will be about four altogether," he says – a sentence that will undoubtedly bring joy to the ears of young Itch fans everywhere.

He does, however, think a novel for adults is a possibility – should he ever find the time!