My favourite 1970s gag, about Peter Bonetti walking down the street, sees a burning building, woman screaming that her baby’s stuck on the top floor. “Tell your baby to jump,” he says. “I’m Peter ‘The Cat’ Bonetti. I’ll save her.” “I can’t, I can’t,” wails the mother. “It’s your only chance,” says Bonetti.
“OK, but please save her!”
“I will!”
The baby jumps, Bonetti dives to his right, the baby suddenly moves to the left. Bonetti contorts his body in mid air, reaches out and grabs the baby, pulling it close to his chest.
The crowd cheer, the mother weeps tears of joy.
Peter ‘The Cat’ Bonetti waves everyone away, bounces the baby twice and boots it up the high street.