It must be nice to see all those early 1990s, Madonna-style boobs back in the world. How did they originally meet? “I was a fan,” he says. “She made her first concert in Paris in 1987 or 1988, and there was a party after. I was intimidé, but she was first to arrive, waiting for everybody. She was like this always for 10 years, always on time but now... boof, finished! She is the last one,” he laughs. 

“Alors, she was super-cute, so I said to ’er, ‘I would love to do something super-special for you.’ She was like, ‘Yeah, yeah, okay.’ Then, two days before my show, I receive a phone call. They tell me it’s Madonna, but I’m like, ‘Yeah, yeah, okay, whatever.’ I don’t believe it’s possible. But the next day I ask if it’s true, and there is a number and I call and she answers and tells me to come to New York and we prepare for the tour.” 
So began a working relationship they’ve dipped in and out of for 20 years. A friendship also developed, though I suspect Gaultier retains a fan’s fascination. “I went to a club with her and all the good-looking boys were looking, but not recognising her. She was so famous, they couldn’t imagine she would be there, so they were cruising her".

However, his most hilarious Madonna memory relates to her wedding to Guy Ritchie in 2000. “He wore a kilt with nothing under,” says Gaultier approvingly. How do you know? “I ask him, ‘It’s true?’ He say, ‘You see!’” he says, miming Ritchie whipping up his skirt. And was it...? “Well, I understood Madonna! Hahaha!” he cackles, then shouts in delight as a plate of fish and different pastel-coloured mashed potatoes is placed in front of him.