A big Jew is at the heart of Elf, one of the big Christmas shows currently in the West End. His name is Simon Lipkin and it is something of a joy to see him in the role of Buddy, the human brought up as one of Santa’s little helpers in the stage version of the Will Ferrell movie.

“What do you mean big?” asks Lipkin when we meet for an online interview with a hint of mock indignation. He has just got home (to a pad near Tower Bridge) after a session at the gym and even via a laptop screen a certain post-workout oxygenated ruddiness is clear.

“Do you mean that way?” he says with one hand hovering above the other, “or that way?” he adds, his palms now facing each other as if demonstrating the size of the one that got away. I hesitate.