The Beano have announced they are going to change one of their longest running characters names.
Despite its wonderful rhyme, bosses at the comic have been forced to concede that it is simply no longer plausible to assert a little boy called Dennis could in any way be menacing.
“The name of a character is fundamental to how plausible they appear in a story,” said Beano CEO Peter Enciller, “It conveys a statement of intent about who they are and what readers can expect from the comic. It’s just not plausible any more that a child who has the potential to genuinely menace, could be called Dennis.
“I mean, who do you know who calls their child Dennis? A wayward council estate mum, of the type one might find in the Daily Mail, raising someone who, how shall we say, needs more colouring in, is not going to call their child Dennis. And if we are to market ourselves to these type of raci… sorry, I mean, traditionalists, then, we need a plausible child.
“Accordingly, Dennis the Menace will now be called Denzy sells Skunkzy because that kind of low key petty drug dealing is altogether far more threatening that Jamie the coke dealing Estate Agent.”
It is hoped this move by the Beano will help placate those who still think King Arthur could have been served at Camelot by brave, brave Sir Nigel.
