History should not be rushed. It is important to take time to reflect, and to have access to all relevant materials before coming to judgment. And while all views may be subject to revision (just ask Stalin), I am fairly confident of our maturity in the cultural sphere, and so believe that this is one historical assessment that will stand the test of time.

It is important when assessing cultural phenomena to be separate from fads and not to be ideologically blinkered. Gentle readers, you know that I stand apart from the crowd, and that while others may be subjective, I am objective. (Lord, that was said to me, not about me, by a fellow panellist on a recruitment panel. Apparently, because we described a candidate in words, and they assessed them using a numeric scoring system of their own invention, they were that rare thing, a truly objective person.) So after catching up on some favourites of my youth last night on Youtube, I am very well placed to declare that the greatest dancer of the 20th century was Alexei Sayle. To see a chubby bald guy in a tight suit make those moves was inspirational. Forever more, every time I take to the dance floor, regardless of the koinos kosmos, in my head, that will be how I look. Except I have hair. And my suits aren’t that tight.