If I were given a ream of paper and a pen and threatened with a garden rake, I think I could probably write out all the scripts for Fawlty Towers from memory. I’ve always adored all 12 of those clever, hilarious, ground-breaking and timeless farces. For me, the hero of it is Connie Booth. I think there’s a widespread assumption that, although they are both credited as co-writers, it was John Cleese who came up with most of it, and she was a sort of sounding board. I bet it wasn’t at all like that, though. I’d like to think that Connie came up with all my favourite lines. The lines I like best are the ones no one else seems to laugh at and even the studio audience miss, like, ‘where do you think you are? Paris?!’ and ‘flying tart? No, it got off to a flying start.’

Which brings me to my favourite character in the sitcom. I love all Polly’s moments, like running around with a net, trying to catch a rat; dressing up as Sybil; and singing ‘I’m just a girl who cain’t say no,’ with that brilliantly uncommitted final note. Booth is such a fantastic and understated actor.

Adding to the comedy hero allure, as far as I’m concerned, is the fact that having co-written and co-starred in arguably the greatest character farce of all time (works that are so classic they feel almost like they were discovered rather than written), Connie Booth went artistically silent, joining the list of those who achieved greatness and then continued to live and breathe but created nothing; like Elgar and Sibelius. What I would like to say to Connie is one of the catchphrases from the show: ‘thank you so much!’

Paul Foot: Dissolve tours until Friday 17 May.