Mum on the other hand, was dottily optimistic and rather fond of "Foxy".

American television dramas are almost dottily optimistic, constantly looking for an ending of uplift and inspiration.

Oddly, it's the British, often stereotyped as almost dottily prim and proper, who keep putting their Yank cousins in an often laughably uptight light.

She remembered Kanner - remembered, also, Caris' uneasiness at operating without a master, or with only the dottily masterful Antryg to give him orders.

There's an interlude among "the defunct European ruling class" where assorted aristos behave as dottily, filthily, stupidly and cravenly as any good democrat could hope.

Instead, for most of last week, they looked dottily remote and badly in need of the guidance that flowed up from the streets instead of down from Balmoral.

In secondary roles, Jane Connell is Jane Connell, dottily imperious as the Grand Duchess Annina of wherever, and Eddie Bracken as an old wine steward has effectively tender moments, put to ruin by excess.