I also remember hiding behind the couch when the Whirlagig witch appeared. She probably wasn't in very many episodes but I remember being terrified at the very mention of her name
There's a fine tradition of Irish journalists telling the British what a bunch of backward sleveens we all are. They love the ol' 'pig in the parlour' stuff.
If you're looking to convince people western values and interests are worth protecting (and I believe they are), the British empire being "a force for good" is a pretty piss-poor place to start.
