The Blood Donor

But there's product placement in the Blood Donor anyway: Drinka Pinta Milka Day. Not to mention references to porridge, mince and Cliff Richard. To say nothing of the benefits the programme brought to the linen trade ("...# trap the germs in your handkerchief # ...").

It makes Jim's Inn look like Fred's Pie Stall.

***

And the revivifying qualities of mince.

Not to mention the Scottish Tourist Board's subliminal rebranding of the country as a sensitive, non-macho holiday destination ("We're not all Rob Roys").

***

Yes, it's that wonderful moment when Hancock comes into the surgery expecting a Scottish doctor and lapses into cod-Scotticisms (very much like the McHancocks episode) to be confronted by ... Patrick Cargill. Of course for the following to work you have to remember his laconic delivery or, better still, remind yourself of it on Friday:

Tony: Ah, guid morning, It's a braw bricht moonlicht nicht the morning, mista, it’s a bonny wee lassie ye got there helping you, hoots mon…and och aye te ye the noo.

Doctor (educated English accent) Would you mind sitting down there, Mr Hancock.

Tony: Oh, I beg your pardon for lapsing into the vernacular but the young lady did say you were a Scottish gentleman.

Doctor: Yes, well we’re not all Rob Roys.

[as published in Woburn Press edition]