Dermot Morgan, of Father Ted fame, took us back with him to his home town, in Dublin, in Day Return, (Radio 4) and a wildly funny and informative traipse it was. Declaring himself to be Ireland’s Solzhenitsyn – “A quitter” – he now lives in Richmond, where the barmen are haughty even to sitcom stars. The country gives a great tax break to foreign artists who choose to live there, whilst ironically driving its own abroad. Morgan’s satirical programme on RTE, Scrap Saturday, was itself scrapped. A politician pal of his described the ejection of this comic dissident under the pressure of a government which does not take kindly to criticism – “we are not as broad a church as Westminster.” Not sure our government is that keen on revealed scandals, but I suppose we are allowed our spitting images of Norma and John and their peas.

Having felt himself driven out by Pravda types, Morgan is obviously quite happy with his present set-up, enjoying the best of both worlds. His key to Dublin was getting out of it often enough (if you have enough money – the place being as pricey as it is friendly). Networking is a doddle here; no need to run around looking for folk to discuss with, just sit in the cafe and wait for its society to bump into you. The Hat Trick company who produce Father Ted should give Mr Morgan a satire show of his own to play with – he’s a perceptive funny man with a serious wit.