Waiting to find out whether the man in the third carriage from the front of the 10.20am to Victoria got the part - and which part.

Man in question was in early 40s, casually dressed and boasting a full head of hair.

He was pretty much minding his own business, reading a paper, when train made unscheduled stop at Haywards Heath and his phone rang.

Normally, when train is stationary, there's no need to shout to make yourself heard while going through a tunnel or to let the world know that you're a busy and important person who sells radiator fittings for a living.

People are able to carry on conversations fairly discreetly, without the whole of the carriage finding out their arrangements for expansion of company or dinner that night.

But full head of hair was an ACTORRR and on the phone to his agent.

And even though he wasn't shouting or even raising his voice, he was projecting it (after years of practise sending lines to the back of village halls) so the whole of the carriage, if not the whole of the train, could hear his conversation.

"The thing is Maggie, I'm torn between the two parts . . ."

"Brrrr . . . mmmmm . . . mumble, mumble . . ." was all I could make of Maggie's end of the conversation.

"I mean, obviously the West End would be fantastic and I'd be able to get home at night, but the tour would take me right through to the summer and right now I could do with that kind of security."

"Mmm . . . Da da da . . . mmm . . . " (Maggie was getting her two penneth in).

"I mean, obviously if I took the West End part I'd get more exposure but it would cost me more to actually do and it's only a six-week run . . . "

At this point I was beginning to think he was a very unusual specimen of actor, one who not only has work but has two offers of work and was having to choose between them.

But as self and rest of the carriage listened on (having little choice in the matter) it appeared that neither of the parts he was trying to choose between were actually his.

"Well, if the audition in London goes well today, I'll obviously tell them I've got this other thing lined up and then after I've been up for that we'll see who comes up with the best offer . . . yes . . . yes . . . OK, well thank you Maggie. I'll let you know how it goes."

He hung up, unaware everyone else had heard every word of his conversation and were wondering if he'd actually get a part at all.

At which point train spluttered into action again and the less than actorly voice of conductor began to waft through speakers.

"Apologise for . . .mmmm . . . mumble mumble . . .delay . . .mmm mumble . . . caused by . . . sssssss" and whatever the cause was was lost in a hissing buzz of interference.

"Well," said the person sitting next to me. "If he doesn't get either of those parts, he can always get a job as a railway announcer.

You can just imagine it. "DAR-LINGS, the train is a wee bit peaky today . . . "