Simon Heffer discusses the life and work of Terry-Thomas who, with his monocle, his cigarette holder and familiar gap between his two front teeth, perfected the role of a particular type of British 'toff'.

Terry-Thomas took star billing in a series of films such as Private's Progress, I'm All Right Jack, and Carlton-Browne Of The F.O. in the mid-1950s.

Simon argues that whether playing a cad, a bounder or a charmer, Terry-Thomas came to represent the louche and degenerate side of the upper classes at a time when the class system was coming under full attack.