Tory leader William Hague proved he was well-versed on Britain's youth culture when he was quizzed by a Sussex teenage reporter on his election plane.

Siobhan Davis, 14, failed to fluster Mr Hague when she and another young reporter asked him questions on pop music, Harry Potter books and the latest toy craze for BBC1's Newsround.

He confidently identified Pied Piper's garage hit Do You Really Like It? as the current No 1.

And after a little hesitation Mr Hague knew a muggle to be a "non-wizard person from Harry Potter".

When Siobhan, from Old Town, Eastbourne, went on to ask him his favourite choice between Pokemon and Microstars, Mr Hague quickly opted for the collectable figures of footballers which have become the latest playground craze.

She said: "I thought he would be a bit patronising but he wasn't at all. He seemed very nice."

She said she was unsure whether his aides were allowed a peek at the questions before the cameras rolled.

Press packer Siobhan, who attends St Bede's School, was given the chance to quiz him after beating thousands of youngsters from across Britain with an election assignment. Siobhan, who confesses to having no political allegiance, submitted a string of questions to the show's producers on what she would ask a main party leader.

She heard she would be interviewing Mr Hague only on Wednesday.

And yesterday she joined him in the sky as Mr Hague travelled from Northolt to Exeter.

But she failed to unhinge him when questioning him on who won the ITV show Popstars.

After replying Hear'Say, Mr Hague said: "I watched a bit of that."

Newsround producer Georgie Bevan said: "Both Siobhan and the other girl were great.

"Their questioning was very confident and they didn't seem fazed at all."

The interview will be screened on Monday at 5.25pm.

June 1, 2001