“Apparently”, and allow me to reiterate that in deep quotes, “”"”apparently”"”", a truckload of flanimals books have gone missing in the US. And if Ricky Gervais weren’t involved, I might not be suspecting this was a publicity stunt and that those of us who’d never even heard of these abominations of cool were all being fleeced (teehee!) into posting about it. But here we are. I just like posting things with pictures of Ricky in it. He has a face I love.

Involving the antics of creatures including the timid Splunge and the ferocious Bletchling, Gervais’s first pop-up Flanimals books were en route to an Indiana warehouse belonging to his US publisher, Candlewick, when the truck driver discovered they were missing. The copies of the $19.99 (£12.50) book – which will be released in March – are valued at more than $240,000, and Candlewick told US publishing magazine Publishers Weekly that police were investigating the incident as grand theft.

In a statement issued by Candlewick to the magazine, Gervais showed a sense of humour about the situation. “This is obviously a misguided Flanimal Rights group or an organised gang of eight-year-olds,” said the comedian. “Just like the books, the thieves will fold under questioning.” The publisher said the theft would not affect availability.

Mr Gervais won my eternal affection about ten seconds into this video. So, yes, I will post your thinly veiled publicity grubbing, Ricky.