[Transcript of Nimitz Shand Interview on The Hard Line with Jonathan Donahoe]

[Donahoe]  

It's been a while, hasn't it?

[Shand]  

Too long, Jonny.

[Donahoe]

I want to start with the political side of things.

[Shand]

I thought we were going to have a nice chat.  You know, one of your usual nice chats.

[AUDIENCE LAUGHTER]

[Donahoe]  

What, you don't want to talk about politics?

[Shand]

There are two types of men: those who are born into politics and those who have politics thrust upon them.

[Donahoe]

You're our reluctant leader?

[Shand]

I'm not saying "reluctant", I'm saying it wasn't really part of the plan.  You know, when I was younger I was just like, "Let's see how far we can take this thing."  Yeah, I wanted to do well, make money and so on.  

I remember talking to you about trying to get the shape out to everyone.  That's all I've ever wanted, you know.  Just try to make sure that the right stuff was happening.

[Donahoe]

The Petrov's Shard situation...

[Shand]

There are always going to be terrorists, Jonny.  They're always going to get attention.  They're always going to come along waving these banners that say, "Here's...here's the shiniest diamond in the box!"

If I had my way, you know, we'd be able to keep these people close to us.  I worked with Graham Nix, we did years of good work together but he just never bought into what E:N is all about.

[Donahoe]

There's people who say that...that they have significant numbers now.

[Shand]

There's people who say that you're practically pulsating with radiant sexuality, Jonny.  That you're, you know, a furious godlike Adonis with a body that refuses to quit.

[Donahoe]

There's a lot of bright people in this city, let me tell you.

[Shand]

There's scope for people to be wrong, is what I'm saying.

[Donahoe]

Not much scope.

[Shand]

But seriously, we have the edge here.  Petrov's Shard just don't have the resources of E:N.  And they don't have the support - the public are still with us, right?

[Donahoe]

It's kind of a divisive situation.

[Shand]

I think, honestly, that it's a fad.  We are embedded in the fabric of the city at this point.  We are the *weave* of the city: there is not going to be a challenge that we can't deal with.

Maybe that's...hubristic?

[Donahoe]

I think "hubristic" is wrong, I might go for...presumptuous?

