Archive interview — Sir Clive Sinclair, 2003

Sir Clive Sinclair is to gamble again with a new electric vehicle for the masses. The well-known inventor is to launch the as yet unnamed vehicle next year, but he'll also be seen by the public very soon on a programme about his other great passion: poker.

What with the first pocket calculator, ZX80, 81 and Spectrum computers, the C5 and the Zike, he is someone that clearly enjoys the throw of the dice and the idea of high risk, high reward.

Sinclair has certainly gambled many times and won. His success earned him a knighthood in 1983 and he now resides in a plush two-floor apartment overlooking Trafalgar Square. The top floor is his office, from which he keeps in touch with his company's research centre in Croydon.

Although Sinclair has faded from the spotlight in recent years he has continued to seek out innovation that has commercial potential. 'I have to work in areas where there are opportunities. My job as I see it is innovation and in any one time there are only certain areas where it's plausible,' he said.