The Globe and Mail visits with David Mitchell after he lost the Booker last week. He’s working on a new book already (although he said as much when he came to the store).

When he does return to the bustle and grime of London, there are moments when the city redeems itself. “I was taking a taxi from Paddington the other day, and my taxi driver stopped to talk to this other one. My taxi driver says,” Mitchell switches to a Cockney accent, ” ‘Oi, Frank! I thought you was retired!’ And the other taxi driver says, ‘Retired? Nah. Retarded, yeah.’ ”