In the world of Italian film, he enjoys a reputation roughly equivalent to that of Benny Hill. But that did not stop an Italian actor renowned for starring in a series of low-cost, ribald comedies involving scantily-clad women, improbable plots and slap-stick humour, from being appointed to a prestigious Unesco commission this week.

The populist coalition’s decision to appoint Lino Banfi to a body that is supposed to promote the cultural and scientific work of the Paris-based organisation was greeted with disbelief and derision by opposition politicians.

“This is how the coalition takes the mickey out of Italians in 2019,” said Maurizio Martina, the head of the centre-Left Democratic Party.

Italy has 54 World Heritage sites – more than any other country – and the work of Unesco is taken seriously.

Even the diminutive Mr Banfi, 82, whose films include The Night Nurse and Sex on the Brain, was surprised to have been selected for the Italian National Commission, which promotes Unesco’s work.

Lino Banfi with the actress Licina Lentini in one of his popular comedies credit: Getty

“At first I thought it was a joke,” said the actor, whose films were as popular in Italy during the 1970s as the Carry On movies were in Britain.

He was hand-picked by Luigi Di Maio, who is deputy prime minister and the head of the Five Star Movement, which is allied with the hard-Right League in the government.

Critics said the appointment represented a streak of anti-intellectualism in the populist parties, which have been widely condemned for peddling anti-vaccination conspiracy theories.

Luigi Di Maio, deputy prime minister, appointed Lino Banfi to Italy's Unesco commission credit: Angelo Carconi/Ansa

“Enough with all these people with multiple degrees, I’ll bring a smile,” said Mr Banfi, in reference to the university academics, film directors and former politicians who make up the commission.

“I may not have a degree, but film is part of the world of culture. I’m now going to immerse myself in study so that I can understand what Unesco does.”

He said he planned to propose his hometown, Canosa di Puglia in the southern region of Puglia, for World Heritage status.

Among its rich heritage, he claimed, were “Egyptian tombs”.

When it was pointed out that the ancient Egyptians had left no trace of their civilisation anywhere in Italy, he replied: “Well, in any case, it’s a beautiful place.”

The Night Nurse - one of Lino Banfi's many films

It was no coincidence that Mr Di Maio announced the unexpected appointment at an event where he unveiled one of his party’s signature policies – the provision of a minimum guaranteed wage for millions of poor Italians.

The “citizens’ wage” has proved particularly popular in Italy’s depressed, low income south.

Mr Di Maio is a southerner – his family come from near Naples – and so is Mr Banfi, whose hometown is in the heel of the Italian boot.

Shoring up its base in the south has become a priority for Five Star as it watches with alarm the rising popularity of The League, led by hardline interior minister Matteo Salvini.

The League won just 17 per cent of the vote in last year’s general election but Mr Salvini has managed to double that to around 34 per cent, while Five Star has seen its support drop from 33 per cent at the election to around 27 per cent.

The appointment exposed, once again, differences between the two parties in the coalition, strange bed partners who have squabbled over a wide range of issues since coming to power last June, from asylum seekers to infrastructure projects.

Mr Salvini said that if he had had his way he would have opted for someone like Andrea Bocelli, the internationally acclaimed opera singer.