Just how far the Hay festival-goers took Hague to their hearts was clear when Elvis Costello, on stage immediately after the former Tory leader, made a jibe about his 'warm-up act' ("I tried to catch his eye backstage but he did a disappearing act. Much like his Conservative party") and got booed by half the audience.
Still, it wasn't Hague that succeeded in getting the sedate Hay audience out of their seats, arms aloft, chanting "what's so funny about peace, love and understanding?"
As the temperature in the tent rose for the first time all day above unseasonably chilly, Costello played a rousing, feel-good set of old classics including Oliver's Army, Good Year for the Roses, Watching the Detectives and – of course – Every Day I Write the Book.
