This month Sir Howard Panter received a knighthood in the Queen’s birthday honours for his services to theatre. His wife, Rosemary Squire, co-chief executive and co-founder of the Ambassador Theatre Group, which owns and runs theatres in London’s West End, the regions and one on Broadway, got nothing.

Is she miffed? “Yes. It would be nice [to be a dame].” However, her let’s-get-on-with-the-show manner prevails: she says that, unlike her husband, she has no need for the external affirmation, although she does have an OBE for services to theatre. “The only prize he’s ever won before is the Dyslexia Action award. I did well at school, university.” She looks at her husband, sitting next to her in their boardroom, which has photographs of stars from past productions including Damian Lewis and Keira Knightley (The Misanthrope) and Kristin Scott Thomas (Three Sisters). “How many times did you take A-level maths – four times, five times? A lot. And for somebody who is so commercial?.?.?.?”

Her husband interrupts: “I’m only mildly dyslexic.”