Steve Berry: “I know I’m seen as shouty northern rent-a-gob”

Steve Berry has hit back at critics by saying: “I know a lot of people see me as a shouty northern rent-a-gob but I’m not about to change.”

“Motoring journalist and biker” Steve Berry has angered riders with two rants in defence of motorcycling on The Jeremy Vine Show on BBC Radio 2.

Last week he was branded an “idiot” by MCN forum users after his latest contribution to the show, in which he attempted to defend opening bus lanes to motorcycles.

Collared by MCN at the Ace Café in London, defiant Berry claimed his arguments were “heart felt”.

“I know it gets people fired up,” he said. “I know a lot of people won’t agree with a lot of what I say. But there’s no political agenda with me.”

He claimed his style of debate was what the show makers wanted. “They want people to interact and they want their guests to stimulate debate,” he said. “Inevitably it descends into a bit of a slanging match.”