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On last week’s programme Ruth Nicholls introduced Home Truths to Niney - her comfort blanket. This week, Hilary and Richard Pavitt own up to the existence of - Sucky…

Hilary, a married woman, in her thirties, widely travelled, carries with her a life-long, if lifeless companion, described, rather insensitively, by her husband, Richard as "a manky old handkerchief.."

This piece of cloth is called Sucky, and is Hilary’s security blanket. "I had one boyfriend who blew his nose on him, for a joke," she says, and adds briskly, "I ditched him!" Richard doesn’t remember the specific day when he realised there was a third ‘presence’in their relationship, he just recalls finding a rather grubby handkerchief under the pillow. He's come to accept if not approve of Sucky.

When one Sucky wears out, it’s renewed, "It’s just a man’s hanky, but it has to be cotton, has to have borders and generally it’s white…" Hilary’s current Sucky has been in use for a while, so is rather grey in hue. "It does get a bit smelly, after a while, but I will wash it! I’m not that disgusting!" However, after washing Sucky, there’s a bizarre ritual which has to be gone through. Richard explains, "When we’re in bed, the spotlessly clean Sucky is rubbed on my chest to get the smell …"

Hilary and Richard are about to become the parents of twins any day now, but Hilary feels that Sucky will stay around even when she becomes a mum. "It’s a permanent fixture," says Richard, shaking his head. "Maybe the twins will have ones of their own and this will be the grandfather Sucky …." adds Hilary.

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