Tony Blair tried to bury his "toxic legacy" last night by flying to Ireland to appear on The Late Late Show.
In his only live TV interview since his memoirs were published, he tried to convince the audience that he acted against the one million people who marched in opposition to the war in Iraq in 2003 because he simply couldn't take decisions "based on those that shout most".
Blair was greeted by about 50 protesters at the RTE studios – although they were easily outnumbered by the number of squealing teenagers who had gathered for another set of guests on the show – The X Factor twins Jedward.
During the interview, he was asked how he felt that morning drinking his coffee in Downing Street, with a million protesters outside.
"Look it's not them that give you pause for thought. You should have pause for thought all the way through. In the end you have to decide this way or that, there is, unfortunately no third way."
"Yes I had to listen to people who were opposed but there were also people in favour of the decision I took including, incidentially many many Iraqis."
He denied he had "blood on his hands" and said he didn't believe he was a "war criminal" showing a flash of exasperation when asked to explain why people thought that he was.
Interviewer Ryan Tubridy sought the advice of Jon Snow ahead of the interview but was warned it would be difficult to extract anything 'revelatory' out of Tony Blair.
It is believed Blair chose Ireland for his only live interview since his memoirs because he felt he would get a better hearing because of the peace he secured in Northern Ireland.
"When we finally got the whole lot together literally weeks before I left office in 2007 and there was Martin McGuinness sitting with Ian Paisley and it was such a strange and extaordinary sight and it was one of the few times in politics I felt really proud actually."
