Alexei Sayle and Wilf

THIS week we induct only the second ever animal to feature in the Character slot by remembering the runaway pussycat Wilf Mbanga.

If you think that’s an unusual name for a pet, then know that he belonged to Alexei Sayle, the comedian who 10 years ago this month used our pages to issue a “have you seen my cat” appeal.

The big stripey Maine Coone cat – see picture for proof on bigness and stripiness – had gone missing from his Bloomsbury home.

It had, by the way, originally been found as a stray by John Humphrys, the former BBC newscaster and Mastermind host, and then handed on to Mr Sayle – who explained: “John is not an animal lover so we went around and picked him up.”

The real Wilf Mbanga is a campaigning newspaper editor who fled Zimbabwe after being targeted by Robert Mugabe.

Mr Sayle’s shout­out was seen. A family in Primrose Hill had found him and, during three weeks waddling around London, Wilf Mbanga (the cat) had managed to cross the Euston Road.

The comedian and his cat were reunited!

Earlier in the search, the Extra had phoned Wilf Mbanga (the journalist) and told him that a cat named after him was missing and we were helping to lead the search.

He was rather touched that somebody had given his name to a cat, as anybody would be. Harrington would be a lovely name for one.

But he then drew breath and explained drily that he could not help on the ground as… he was allergic to cats.