The Top 10: Favourite foods of fictional characters

Signature dishes of imaginary people, dogs, bears, donkeys, aliens and time lords

‘Cheese Gromit!’: Wallace is partial to a chunk of Wensleydale (Aardman/YouTube)

This list was suggested, a long time ago, by Roger Hewell. It’s time to take it out of the oven.

1. Wensleydale cheese. Wallace, although not Gromit. Nominated by Andrew Ruddle.

2. Cow pie. Desperate Dan. Nominated by someone called Desperate Dan.

3. Spinach. Popeye. Usually swallowed straight from a tin.

4. Jelly babies. The Doctor, starting with the Second Doctor, Patrick Troughton, before diversifying, in the case of the 11th Doctor, Matt Smith, to fish fingers and custard.

5. Thistles. Eeyore. Thanks to Andrew Ruddle. Also honey, favourite food of Winnie the Pooh, nominated by John Peters.

6. Sandwiches. Scooby-Doo. John Peters again.

7. Green soup and blue string pudding. Clangers. A family of shrew-like creatures living on a faraway tiny planet. Created by Oliver Postgate; first broadcast on TV in 1969. Nominated by Robert Boston.

8. Marmalade. Paddington bear: first appeared in a 1958 book by Michael Bond. Subsequently spreading to film, television and advertising. Keeps marmalade sandwiches in his floppy hat. Another from Robert Boston.

9. Capocollo. Tony Soprano. Pronounced “gabagool” on the show. Similar to prosciutto (sometimes called coppa). “Often eaten straight from the fridge, it once triggered a panic attack linked to Soprano’s traumatic childhood memories,” said James Irwin.

10. Egg and chips. Sergeant Robbie Lewis, friend and partner in (solving) crime of Inspector Morse. Thanks to Andrew Kitching.

Next week: Things everyone talked about for ages which then went away, just to give us an idea of what it might be like after Brexit.

Coming soon: People who most affected British politics who were never a member of parliament, after Nigel Farage.

Your suggestions please, and ideas for future Top 10s, to me on Twitter, or by email to top10@independent.co.uk