In 1991, he’d founded a telecoms business in the commuter town of Hemel Hempstead and the venture kept him extremely busy. Ant was CEO, worked long hours and, as a result, felt very stressed out.

For 50 years they have been leaping about in green trousers, waving hankies and entertaining people with song and dance.

Among the sleek vested athletes with carbon plated trainers at Sunday’s Sheffield half marathon will be half a dozen cheery ...