This year is the 30th anniversary of Elmo’s creation. I can’t quite believe this since he started out on Sesame Street (which was my favourite when I was a kid) and I don’t remember him on it. Grover, yes. Bert & Ernie, of course. Oscar the Grouch, obviously. But not Elmo. Still, it’s true.

To coincide with the anniversary, Abbey Home Media will be releasing Elmo’s World – Wake up with Elmo! on DVD (25th February). It’s the first ever Sesame Street DVD to be released in UK format, as I well know since I recently returned from New York with a bunch of Region 1 Elmo DVDs. (Me to son: “Did you miss me?” Son: “Elmo’s World!”)

One of my favourite things about Sesame Street was the interaction between the puppets and celebrities and Elmo’s no slacker in that department. Check him out with a certain Mr Robert de Niro.

Another consequence of me searching YouTube for Elmo is that I’ve become obsessed with old Sesame Street clips. I’d forgotten how good it was. This Bert & Ernie clip is my favourite so far. You just don’t get lines like “I’m not emotionally secure enough to do this, Ernie” on kids TV anymore.