The museum has a rich and eclectic collection of Dickens’ artefacts, ranging from portraits of the author and his family to original furnishings and personal effects. The presence of the desk at which he wrote ‘Great Expectations’ and ‘Our Mutual Friend’ rather set me back on my heels, and I found the case containing Dickens’ shaving razors and other day-to-day items to be strangely compelling, although not as much as the samples of his original, handwritten manuscripts.

Many writers are shy and retiring — it kind of goes with the territory, the lonely garret with the tortured wordsmith gazing pensively into the mid-distance, seeking that elusive inspiration. As for Danny Baker, when he dons his raconteur’s hat (actually a fez) and takes to the stage at Komedia in Bath, it’s not as if he has to be dragged up there through any reluctance on his part. Getting him off the stage, however, presents quite a challenge.

I decided a couple of years ago that classic books and I had been estranged for too long...

Useful tips for anyone planning a visit to the house in London where Dr Samuel Johnson compiled his famous English dictionary.