As "Israel Apartheid Week" caused tension across campuses last week, one public figure praised the initiative.

Norman "Nobby" Butcher fresh from the new film comedy Grimsby - told an Israeli TV crew that the week "sounds good actually" and that boycotting was a "fantastic idea". He added: "I'm not a racist, but keep the Jews out."

Fear not: his words came with a large helping of salt.

The lager lout happens to be the alter ego of comedian and star of the movie, Sacha Baron Cohen.