Many, many years ago I was in the cinema to see the Kate Beckinsale romcom Serendipity. About halfway through the film a new character was introduced, and his appearance made one woman several rows behind gasp one word out loud, so the whole theatre heard her. “Aidan!” was what she wheezed out. The entire – largely female – audience dissolved into chortles of acknowledgment. Yes, it was Aidan from Sex and the City, the too-good-to-be-true woodworker who had swept Carrie Bradshaw off her feet. He was also tall, with a loyal dog. The gasp was well deserved. Fast forward to...