Bowler hats, prudes and cod sauce: New Astérix film does little to challenge French clichés about Britain

However much the island now governed by Davidcameronix may have changed over the years, the indomitable French clichés about Britain will always, and forever, resist.

At 5pm all Britons, even women giving birth, stop for tea. All food is served in mint and cod flavoured sauce. Men invariably wear bowler hats or berets with bobbles on them. Women always wear tweed skirts. Both men and women find it impossible to talk freely about sex - or anything else. On the other hand, London is energetic and trendy and makes Paris look like a theme park.

Every recorded French cliché about Britain is joyously served up – and then reheated and served again – in a new Asterix movie which appeared on French cinema screens today. In Astérix au service de Sa Majesté (Astérix on Her Majesty’s Service), the indomitable Gaul and his gigantic buddy, Obelix, take their resistance to Roman rule across the Channel. They are called to the rescue by the besieged Queen of the “Bretons”, who is played with a delightful English accent by the queen of the French cinema, Catherine Deneuve. (via The Independent)