Dennis's Granny is a curious character: at times she's been very indulgent of her grandson, knitting him a jumper and feeding him sweets. At other times, she was even stricter than Dennis's Dad; about the only thing to strike fear into the heart of the young menace was the Demon Whacker.

Then, sometime around the birth of Gnasher's pups, Granny changed into the grown-up tearaway you so accurately describe above. The lesson being that a leopard can change her spots, and even the stuffiest person can ease up and let her hair down.

There is hope for Lord Snooty III yet.