A celebrity called Cain Dingle was in town today to open Poundland Abingdon. The Dingles are a family in the British soap Emmerdale. They tend to have Biblical names, and get into trouble with the law.

He was a few minutes late for the 11am opening and the compere had started to prepare what to do – like offering free gifts all round – if the celebrity did not show.

But the celebrity did appear from inside the shop, and there was a huge cheer. I was amazed at the size of the crowd, and at how pleased people were to see him. Some hugged him like an old friend. But then I don’t watch Emerdale.