Hello and welcome to the Red Box Politics podcast on The Times, I'm Matt Chorley.

This is part one of a two-part series in which we take you behind the most famous door in the world,

number 10 Downing Street. In the next episode I speak to a

researcher in residence, Jack Brown, about the decision taking 60 years ago this month

to stop Downing Street from falling down altogether. But first we speak to three people who've worked in

number turn under three different prime ministers about life in the corridors of

power, how the office shapes its inhabitants and what it's like on the day their

boss is forced to move out. Plus we'll try to answer some of the questions that you've sent in.

I'm delighted to be joined by Caroline Slocock who's just written a book.

People like us, Margaret Thatcher and me, about her time as a private secretary for the Iron Lady.

Gabby Burton was David Cameron's press secretary and later director of external relations

throughout his time in number 10.

And Philip Collins is the Times columnist who is Tony Blair's speechwriter in his final years in Power.

Welcome to you all.

So let's begin then with just what it's like when you're just working in number 10 and you'll you

walk up down the street for the first time let's start with you what was that

like for you well I mean the first time I actually went into work I walked down

down straight because there were no gates in those days. They were put in later.

Oh, this was 1989.

And the door of number 10, as others will know,

opens magically just as you approach it,

because they can see you, literally see you coming.

...