I can't prove this, not being a
Brit, but I've been told that there is or was a very memorable
Alfie character in a TV soapie called Eastenders. And apparently that kick-started the passion.
Which is mildly odd, seeing that the Beatles gave
Michelle and
Lucy a helping hand up the charts; and at around the same time there was a big booming ballad by a very dramatic singer, from or based on a film I think (WHAT'S it ALL about, WHEN you've thought it OUT, Alfeee - ARE we MEANT to take MORE than we GIVE, etc), which made zilch impact. And now, decades later, it's gone viral. Weird.