"Parts of this city are s**t not because we are s**t, but because of a lack of investment."
Of his two episodes, Jimmy says: "The first is about a road accident in the street and the second features a bloke coming up to his 65th birthday. He's worked in a warehouse all his life and his pension is the equivalent of a packet of Benson and Hedges and a copy of the Daily Mirror a day.
"The other writers, all Scousers, are James Quirke, who's written for Cops and Soldier Soldier and is the most experienced, Arthur Ellison (Brookside and Hollyoaks) and emerging writers Mark Pye and Alan Field.
"I'm really pleased with it. The writers came up with their own stories, but I don't think you'll spot the join."
We're in a pub, so it's time to go off on a tangent - a pleasant one involving a fictional boozer: "Christine Bottomley, who plays Melanie in the Craig Cash and Phil Mealey sitcom Early Doors, is going to be in Arthur's episode," reveals Jimmy..
"Early Doors is brilliant. I wrote to Craig Cash (who also co-wrote and costarred in The Royle Family with Caroline Aherne) really praising him and the show - but he didn't even acknowledge the letter.
"I've already told Christine to have a word with him for me about that."
We decide to have a drink in honour of Early Doors. Time, then, to ring the missus and say I'd been unavoidably delayed - and time to test McGovern . . .
"Have I got a mobile you can borrow? ME!? Behave!"
Nice one, Jimmy - you're one of a dying breed.
* FIRST the good news: As part of the Liverpool Irish Festival, Jimmy McGovern will be in conversation with Roger Phillips at FACT on Wednesday evening.
Now the bad: "It's sold out," says Jimmy, "but only because it's in a small room."
