Character name: Ali G. The Fubu-sporting, Staines Massive-supporting numbskull created by Cambridge graduate Sacha Baron Cohen.

Comedy: The Ali G Show (2000, 2003, 2004)

Set-Up: After making a splash as the voice of youth on C4's late- night satire slot The Eleven O'Clock Show (alongside fellow newcomer Ricky Gervais), the breakdancing berk went overground with a succession of breath-takingly cheeky celebrity interviews with unsuspecting members of the establishment such as Tony Benn and the Bishop of Horsham.

Standout moment: Joining in with a real protest in London, he was moved along by the police and delivered the immortal line: "Is it cos I is black?"

Memorable catchphrase: "Booyakasha"

Lowest ebb: Attempting to have a pop career - appearing in Madonna's video for the single Music and then duetting with Shaggy on Me Julie. It was an indication of the strength of Ali G fever rather than pop credibility that the song made it into the charts. Freestyling with Harrods boss Mohammed Al Fayed was pretty cringemaking too.

Big screen potential: Ali G Indahouse saw the tracksuited twat becoming MP for Staines, fighting a sinister plot to close down the local community centre. With the global success of the Oscar- nominated Borat movie, however, Ali G seems to have gone to the rest home for ageing rappers.

Factoid: Baron Cohen is now working on a movie based around his camp fashion reporter Bruno.