“Do you realize,” said Mrs Brown, a few days after Paddington had returned from visiting his aunt in Peru, “we haven’t had a single disaster since he came back?” “Don’t tempt fate,” warned Mrs Bird.

And she was right, for Paddington soon made up for lost time. After a series of disasters he is promptly arrested for causing a commotion.

The Stock Exchange, the ballet, the local barber’s shop, Mr Curry’s kitchen… nothing is safe when Paddington gets to work.