There was a similar crisis in 1997 when Desperate Dan sailed off with the Spice Girls after striking oil and temporarily retired from the pages of Dandy.

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It is very common for boys to try to impress girls with a string of jokes, each one more desperate than the last.

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And there was an outcry from fans in 1997 when Desperate Dan was supposedly to be retired after heading off into the sunset with the Spice Girls - although DC Thomson later admitted the storyline had been a publicity stunt to generate attention for its 60th anniversary.

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"People are desperate to migrate, because they don't think this land gives them the opportunities they need, particularly for girls, " he said.

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