boy from Big Fat Joe, which was also a first issue Beano comic strip (ended issue 35). Like Snooty, he featured in the 65th anniversary issue, starring alongside Billy Whizz. Liz – former star of Swanky, Lanky Liz (issue 336 to 368) by Charles Holt. Liz continued her traits of being snobbish and vain. Thomas – innocent, large-eyed former star of Doubting Thomas (ran from issues 90 to 174) by James Crighton. Polly – former star of Polly Wolly Doodle and her Great Big Poodle by George Drysdale, which appeared between issues 286 and 306. It was about the misadventures of Polly and her poodle Pongo, who also joins her in the crossover. Mary – the stubborn mule from Contrary Mary by Roland Davies. The series was also in the first issue of The Beano (ended issue 97) that was reprinted as "Neddy the Cuddy" in The People's Journal. Other characters Professor Screwtop – inventor who always has a new invention ready for trial tests; first appeared in issue 40. He occasionally appeared in other Beano strips such as the Bash Street Kids. Since 2017, he has appeared in the TV series Dennis & Gnasher: Unleashed! along with his daughter, Rubidium "Rubi". Angus – Snooty's pet stag. First appeared in issue 1536. Cyril – the Castle Jackdaw. The Gasworks Gang – sworn enemies of Snooty and his pals. First appeared in issue 11, dubbed the "Toughs from Gas Lane". Dudley D. Watkins cameoed in issue 170 to teach the children how to draw, but when the Ash-Can kids discover Watkins is creating a comic starring the boys from Gasworks, Snooty uses his drawing practice to modify the story, leading to the offended Gasworks boys attacking Watkins. Reception and legacy Lord Snooty is often regarded as part of the golden age of comic characters and has become one of few to earn his own collection of strips. It was a popular strip upon its release with Wee Peem and Little Dead-Eye Dick, possibly because the working-class children would relate to Snooty venturing with children from their family background. The media wrote of its shock when the series was cancelled in 1991: Mr Pepys called it "[an] occasion for nationwide mourning"; The Guardian implied its inference of paranoia and cowardice in Dr John Casey's article about the event in The Daily Mail because of Casey comparing it to "John Major's drive for