The latest in our series of writers highlighting their favourite comfort films is a reminder of why Richard Curtis’s west London-set romcom is his greatest

It makes toast look delicious. That’s one of Notting Hill’s finest achievements – along with making dating a movie star look realistic. On several occasions a character eats a piece of toast – always rushing to do something else – and you think: “Yes, toast is the best food we have. I’m now going to make some toast.” It’s one of many reasons, big and small, that I will happily watch Notting Hill all over again as soon as its end credits roll. There are few films that keep me as transfixed, few films that make me feel like I just made good use of the last two hours and four minutes of my life.

If you’re unfamiliar with the film, a) sort your life out; b) it’s a story about Hugh Grant, travel bookshop salesman, falling in love with Julia Roberts, Hollywood movie star. Certainly the best thing Grant has ever done, it is also Richard Curtis’s finest film and I won’t hear any argument to the contrary. I should know – I’ve watched it about 12 times. (That may not sound like a lot but it’s more than a day of my life.)