THOSE who believe it's high time The Northern Echo had a new editor will get their wish next on Monday March 21.

After 12 years in the editor's chair, I'm stepping aside. But, before anyone gets too excited, it's only for one day.

Dragons' Den star Duncan Bannatyne is to be guest editor - and I'm going to be his deputy.

It's a case of going full circle for Duncan because his entrepreneurial roots can be traced back to newspapers.

In 1949, when he was living in Clydebank, Scotland, he was told by his mother that she couldn't afford to buy him a bike.

So, instead of sulking, he asked the local newsagent if he could start a paper round. He was told he'd need a list of 100 potential customers so he knocked on every door in the neighbourhood, compiled his list, got the job, bought his bike, and the rest is history.

Sixty two years on, Duncan will get to edit the local paper in Darlington, from where he has grown his business empire and become one of Britain's best-known businessmen.

He'll be running the news conference from the famous old chair occupied in 1871 by the great campaigning editor William Stead who died on board the Titanic.

He'll be going out on assignments, organising a photo-shoot, and generally calling the shots.

It should be a lot of fun but there's also a serious side to it. Duncan is a passionate charity campaigner and the profit from the sale of any newspapers which are above the Monday average will be donated to the Bannatyne Charitable Trust.

The more papers sold on Tuesday March 22, the more money goes to his charity.

A special advertising feature, to commemorate his editorship of the paper, will also be sold, with 10 per cent of the proceeds going to his foundation.

My only worry is that he might prove to be too good and that I don't get back in the chair.