Insiders today related that Pope Benedict XVI requested to be taken to the Govan bar where popular comedy show Rab C Nesbitt is filmed.
To the horror of his minders.
Despite the Pope's repeated requests that he fancied a wee dram in one of Glasgow's less salubrious bars before saying mass in the city's Bellahouston Park, Vatican officials and security staff eventually managed to dissuade him.
He was, however, presented with a bottle of Buckfast as compensation by a devout passing tramp.
It has been reported that His Holiness is a longstanding fan of the Scottish comedy show, which depicts the madcap antics of Rab, wife Mary Doll, and the lecherous Jamesie Cotter, usually alcohol and string vest fuelled, and frequently taking place in a run down Govan bar.
When somebody mentioned Rab C Nesbitt to the Pope, he allegedly scowled, wagged a finger and said:
"I will tell you this, boy!" in a Scottish accent.
Apparently much raucous laughter ensued.
Pope Benedict is also reported to be a huge fan of Irish comedy show Father Ted, and often does impressions of Father Jack Hackett from the show, as he sits on the Papal throne in the Vatican, yelling:
"Drink! Girls! Nuns!"
An insider said that His Holiness has been 'a laugh a minute' since touching down in the UK, and that he is really enjoying visiting the home of his all time comedy idols.
More as we get it.
