He is the villain of Oliver Twist - commonly referred to throughout the story as "the Jew".

But, in a move that may do some good in diffusing long-held complaints of antisemitism, Charles Dickens's Fagin is getting something of a makeover. Disney has announced that it has cast rapper Ice Cube as the child exploiter in its upcoming modern adaptation of the novel.

The rapper, born O'Shea Jackson, is considered one of the founding fathers of "gangsta rap" - so he should have no trouble leading youngsters "to pick a pocket or two".