Deriving from the medieval tradition of improvised comedy in Italy, the violent, anarchic figure of Mr Punch, with his hooked nose, humped back and alarming capacity for casual violence, arouses laughter and controversy in almost equal measure.

Concerns about the suitability of the show for children are nothing new – the first modern attempt to ban it was made in the 1940s. And although it seemed for a while as though modern forms of entertainment would consign him to history, Mr Punch has characteristically bounced back, once again stalking the nation’s seafronts to great acclaim from young and old alike.