After all, his loud-mouthed interrogator and humiliator of celebrities partly made Ali G possible, yet Ali G is still a god, whereas Pennis was way too ahead of his time.

Dennis Pennis is a hugely enthusiastic asker of horrific questions who basically stalks celebrities on red carpets demanding their attention. The moment they give him that attention, they're lost.

In Very Important Pennis, some of the best moments from Pennis' are gathered together. Unwitting victims include Richard Gere, Demi Moore, Jeffrey Archer, and Kevin Costner.

Ali G is by comparison relatively gentle. Dennis Pennis was aggressive and openly rude. Hamstrung by the need to at least appear like human beings and expecting questions focusing on their brilliance or dresses, the stars he grilled were completely confused and then utterly unable to either run away or hit him.

Whilst his questioning of people like Demi Moore were poking fun at their recent roles (he asked if she'd ever consider keeping her clothes on in a movie) occasionally the real rage Kaye felt at overweaning media nightmares came out.

This was apparent from his questions to Jeffrey Archer, and particularly Kevin Costner, whom Pennis virtually chased around London. Costner, robbed of any ability to do much about the nutty ginger guy, was driven to distraction, finally escaping on a boat.

Dennis Pennis first came to life officially in the Sunday Show in 1995 as a location twist to the studio-bound antics of Katie Puckrik, but his series Anyone for Pennis and Very Important Pennis allowed Kaye to fully give vent to his desire to chase the very rich and arrogant about.

In the end, Pennis came to a halt after a 1997 Election special, as the cost of doing the Pennis programmes was too high, and Kaye felt that the character had run his course.

If only he'd waited a couple of years and given his character a Staines accent.