Runcie was depicted as a stiff, pompous, hypocritical little man. He was very preachy towards other people, but in one sketch his Assistant for Anglican Communion Affairs Terry Waite only made trips to the Middle East to bring Runcie some free gifts. Runcie was usually in the presence of other well known Christians like Cliff Richard and Mary Whitehouse. They were often trying to censor blasphemous or otherwise shocking affairs.