At the risk of appearing more profound than it is -- the English were able to shake off the puritanism of Cromwell and established the quintessence of sexual humour in Restoration comedy.

BBC: NEWS | Entertainment | Coupling in the US: Your Views

My one shot at fame had been cruelly stopped short, but somehow I knew that such matters were superficial on a weekend when 25, 000 people gather in a spirit of generosity and good humour - even in the face of an English summer.

BBC: Confessions of a Womad DJ

Kate Fox, a social anthropologist and author of Watching the English, suggests that if offence is taken, then it is best dealt with immediately and possibly with humour.

BBC: Is it acceptable to call someone 'babe'?