Across upscale heatwave Britain, gelato is being served to middle-class families who consider themselves above regular ice-cream. But is it just ice-cream? Yes:

Both are frozen: The key element in both gelato and ice-cream is that they’re frozen. Apparently, gelato is churned more and has less air, but nobody has ever tasted a gelato and asked ‘Wait, does this feel cold to you?’

Both have the same flavours: Whether it's chocolate or salted caramel, both gelato and ice-cream boast the same variety, making you wonder why anyone would pay more. Pistachio, anyone?

Both taste pretty much identical: Gelato is said to be richer and silkier, but everything claims that. If you’ve ever read a microwave meal box, you know the spiel.

Both are served in cones in coastal locations: Licking a cone while on a promenade? That's gelato or ice-cream for you. If gelato wanted to be special, it wouldn’t be found in every seaside town.

‘Gelato’ means ‘ice-cream’: Surprise! The word ‘gelato’ is Italian for ‘ice-cream’. So, next time, skip the fancy parlour and grab a pack of Cornettos.

Next week: Soft-serve ice-cream: why it is the excrement of the devil developed by Margaret Thatcher.