By his own admission, Hugh Dennis’s crafting skills would probably preclude him as a Blue Peter presenter. But the comedian and actor gamely volunteered to help Mitzvah Day lead an online mask-making session on Tuesday.

Given the lockdown, “this is the largest audience I’ve worked with for really quite a long time”, he told the 250 participants. “Although I think if Mask Making with Hugh Dennis makes it to television, television’s going to be in a very bad state.

“The main attraction for me is that this the first gig I’ve ever done where I’ve been told to bring scissors.”

He was making masks for his two adult children, because “small acts of kindness are terribly important”.

The Mock The Week regular formed an unlikely double act with Mitzvah Day founder Laura Marks. When he pointed out they were making masks from the armpit of a T-shirt, which “seems to be very much the wrong part”, Ms Marks piped back: “I hope you washed your T-shirt.”

Cockfosters and North Southgate Synagogue’s Rabbi Daniel Epstein and Mitzvah Day interfaith adviser Rabbi Jeff Berger were among the contributors.

Muslim social media activist and case worker for the homeless Mash Joy told the group he was “a great believer that when you do social action across different faiths, you realise that our basic humanity precedes our religious differences”.

TV doctor Ellie Cannon also took part with her daughter Lottie, who she was making a mask for. Dr Cannon said there was “no greater good deed you can do because we wear this type of face covering to protect other people”.