Bubbles from The Wire, newly released from prison, was attempting to go straight. It was tough going, with a gang pursuing him relentlessly in underground car parks. Then a roof-top sniper shot at him with a bow and arrow. He was forced to cut his hair short to disguise himself.

I was at a dinner table in a restaurant dressed in a nasty old white dressing gown. My sister kept raising her glass to the people sitting on a table behind me and I grew increasingly irritated. “Just leave those people in peace”, I ranted, “or they’ll never finish their dinner”. Embarrassed by my state of under-dress, I rummaged through the coats at reception and fancied Barbra Streisand‘s navy and red jacket.