David Elsworth: 'I don't try to be cantankerous, I am just cantankerous!'

At the age of 80, David Elsworth has even less need than ever to be polite. He forged a reputation for unwavering bluntness back in the day, has spent most of his career honing it and, although it's a little worn around the edges these days, he can't quite bring himself to trade it in for a more socially acceptable model. It's not that he makes a particular effort to offend, he's just something of a natural.

"I don't try to be cantankerous, I am just cantankerous," he grins, plainly relishing the kind of anti-hero role that in much of today's world has been consigned to the realms of outright villainy.

"Most people try to create a favourable image for themselves, and when I was younger and I was trying to get people to send me horses, I was a lot nicer fella because it paid to be nice, but as you get older you might as well behave as you feel."