Dads are the force behind the Star Wars phenomenon

The news that the cast of Star Wars VII will include members of the original cast - including Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill - has sent a shiver up the spines of dads everywhere.

But will it equally excite the young? The answer, clearly, is yes. My kids will be excited, whether they want to or not.

My eldest daughter, who is six, was born on Hallowe'en. For her last birthday, I made a pumpkin to look like the Death Star. She loved it. The following day, I made her a birthday cake, also in the shape of the Death Star. She loved it too. And was also, to be honest, a little embarrassed.

_{Force for good: Jake's pumpkin and birthday cake}

But that's what dads are for, right? Right?

Look, it is beyond dispute that the original Star Wars films are among the best pieces of cinema ever made. Children, I think, love them for this reason. But I have to admit that their affection for the films simply isn't intensified by nostalgia, which is the case for their dads (and mums).

In our day, Star Wars stood out because a) the films were brilliant, and b) there wasn't so much to compete. It is the second point that has changed over the decades. Not to mention the fact that the recent Star Wars films have been an utter travesty.

Thus I return to the matter at hand. Are the kids of today going to be enthused by the sight of two granddads and a grandma - who bear only the slightest similarity to their younger selves - hobbling about with blasters and intergalactic bus passes?

Again, the answer is a resounding yes. The ones who are under my roof, at least.