prompter: Who is the Muffin Man, and does he really live on Drury Lane? Has anybody met him?

assistant: The Muffin Man is a traditional English nursery rhyme and folk song dating back to the 18th century. The lyrics tell the story of a muffin man who lived on Drury Lane. However, it is not clear if there was a real-life muffin man who lived on Drury Lane or if the character is simply a fictional creation.

There is no evidence that anyone has ever met the Muffin Man of the song, and it is likely that the character is a fictional representation. The song has been passed down through generations and is now a well-known and beloved nursery rhyme enjoyed by children and adults alike.

prompter: Why is he known for muffins?

assistant: In Victorian times, people would often get their bread and milk goods delivered to their door. The milk man would bring the milk, and the muffin man would bring the muffins. Muffins at the time weren't sweet as we think of them now, and were more like bread rolls.

assistant: People in the time period when this nursery rhyme was created usually were known for their job. In the case of the muffin man, he was the person who would deliver English muffins to people all around his neighborhood. It would be similar to asking someone if they know the "milk man".

assistant: The Muffin Man is a famous nursery rhyme.  It's allegedly a song used to warn children about a murderer who lived on a real street in London called Drury Lane.  However, there is no proof that this is true.  It's very possible it's just about a real muffin man who sold muffins on the street or door-to-door.

prompter: Who invented this rhyme?

assistant: No author is credited with the invention of the Muffin Man. A manuscript from 1819 called Life High and Low, a curious tome that recounts some of the characters and ballads of the day includes a footnote about "The Dandy Muffin-Man of Drury Lane", and this prints the lyrics, much as they're still sang today.

The book tells us something about an anonymous performer closely associated with the song.

assistant: The origin of the Muffin Man rhyme is unclear, as it dates back to the 19th century and has been passed down through generations. It is thought to have originated in England, but it's uncertain who first wrote the lyrics or why. Regardless, the Muffin Man has become a well-known character in popular culture, and is still enjoyed by children and adults alike today.

assistant: It is not known who came up with the rhyme and it is likely the product of more than one person. For example, one person may have come up with the melody with different or no lyrics and another person upon hearing the melody may have then come up with the lyrics known today. The oldest known record of the rhyme is a British manuscript that was written around 1820 and is being preserved in the Bodleian Library of the University of Oxford.

assistant: Yes, I know the muffin man
The muffin man, is quite the fan
Of musical theatre which is pretty convenient for him and a big part of the reason he's been living in the Theatre Royal for the last 3 centuries. Truth be told he's the main reason we don't go there anymore because he can talk the legs off a wooden horse, if you know what I mean. Always banging on about muffins, pushing his muffins, muffin this, muffin that. Give it a rest! Not even the good kind either, not like a triple choc muffin with goo in the middle that you have to turn upside down in the wrapper and eat it from the bottom so it doesn't break up and drop crumbs everywhere, but an old fashioned bread roll. Stale, dry as anything and granary bread too, no butter or nothing. Apparently in his day an onion was a snack and you were lucky to get cheese or and vinegar for pickling? No chance. Gentrification apparently. They are cheap though, hapney each had to get two because nobody's seen one of them for almost 40 years. No wonder he's skint and always moaning, costs 8 quid for a pint round Covent Garden and it's not even decent beer. And don't get me started on the price of peanuts, £2 for a packet. What if the show is crap? Wouldn't last ten minutes that. Can't believe they kicked me out to be honest...

prompter: That is wonderful! Exactly what I was looking for, I have nothing else to add.
Thank you.