As Little Britain fever sweeps the country, the show’s arrival in Plymouth gave the Evening Herald an idea to give them a warm welcome…

After reading that stars David Walliams and Matt Lucas enjoy Marks and Spencer melon, lemon and locally-produced jam and honey, Herald deputy editor Andy Phelan decided to treat the duo to their favourite titbits.

Reporter Tristan Nichols went to the stage door at Plymouth Pavilions to personally deliver the goods to Lucas’s dressing room.

Tristan stocks up

The Herald gifts

Sadly, neither of the comedians were there, so he left his phone number in the hope they would call for an interview.

And amazingly, Matt Lucas rang him at work that evening.

It was even more of a coup as the team’s PR company said they weren’t doing any publicity for the Little Britain tour.

Hoping for a call

Tristan said: “Sat alone in the Evening Herald’s news room on a Friday night you can expect to hear from anyone – be it someone wishing to tell you about a forthcoming car boot sale or someone wishing to complain about hospital waiting lists.

“It is rare to receive a call from one of Britain’s top celebrities!

“We got possibly the only regional interview in the country through our ingenuity.”

Matt Lucas rang from his dressing room 30 minutes before the show to tell him: “Hi, is that Tristan? It’s Matt Lucas here. I just wanted to day thanks to the paper for its very kind gesture.

“It was great to have the melon and the lemon and honey after the show to soothe our voices.

“What a great idea!”