But John, You Don't Understand. Meghan Markle Was Sent Here To Destroy The Fabric Of Our Society..

We’ve all had to take steps to safeguard our mental health during the pandemic, haven’t we? I’ve even started to emulate my mum, a woman who will routinely change the channel or leave the room when the news comes on.

- John Niven

I’ve gone from being a bit of a news addict to more of a casual news user. We used to wake up to BBC Breakfast on the TV and then have Radio 4 on in the kitchen. I’d check breaking news on my various phone apps on-and-off for most of the day and spend the weekend poring over the newspapers.

But these days – when we live in a time where simply thinking that poor people shouldn’t be burned alive in order to fund tax cuts is enough to make you a bit of a lefty – I’ve had to work to reduce it.

You’ll see a headline saying that our Government, who chucked billions to private companies run by their buddies, are only giving a one per cent pay rise to the NHS workers they’ve spent the last year saluting and you think, “Nope, can’t deal with that level of rage today.”

Scrolling through Twitter, you’ll see the latest lunatic thing that’s been said at CPAC – the American far-right convention that just took place – and say to yourself, “Nah, not getting involved. Leave them to it.”

Or you’ll be on Facebook and see that someone you went to school with is now an anti-mask nutcase, ranting about how Covid is a hoax and Bill Gates will soon control us all. And you’ll quickly shut the laptop.

Like mum, I turn the page or change the channel or scroll on, in an attempt to preserve my sanity.