The Public Accounts Committee found the Inland Revenue spent roughly £25 million on him overall, and between 1998 and 2001 the number of people filing beyond deadline actually increased.
The official line used to justify Hector's departure was that he was "stuffy" and "stereotypical", but in truth, he was failing in his intended purpose.
[9] Hector was replaced in the Inland Revenue's advertising by Mrs Doyle from Channel 4 sitcom Father Ted.
[8] In 2011, supporters of Scottish association football club, Celtic started to use images and masks of Hector to insult supporters of their Old Firm rivals Rangers by referring to Rangers' tax problems with the Inland Revenue's successor, HM Revenue and Customs.
[10] Merchandise to support Inland Revenue's advertising campaign featuring Hector was produced in large quantities.