"They bit my hand off!" says the former ECHO columnist.
"I knew they had been after me for a while, because of Robbie Coltrane. He's the one who wields the power in Cracker because, without the character of Fitz, Cracker is nothing - and Robbie is Fitz.
"But he said 'I'll do another one if Jimmy McGovern writes it' - so I suppose that power was given to me by Robbie."
The show, then, had its lead actor. Now it just needed a story - and Jimmy had one.
"Without wanting to give too much away, it concerns the American response to 9/11, which I think has been catastrophic for world peace. I wanted to write for a character driven mad by it."
But no chance of this leading to a fourth Cracker series? Go on, I'll buy you another pint. With a chaser? Pork scratchings? Cheesy puffs?
"I'd be amazed if there were any more after this one," says Jimmy,, as I withdraw my offer of a pickled onion.
"Cracker is something which can be sold all over the world and I'm sure Granada would be extremely pleased if this led to a new series, but I'd find it very hard work - all the big stories, the big themes, have been done."
Better enjoy what we are set to receive next year, then . . .
