Toby Belch

Sir Toby Belch was a character in William Shakespeare's play Twelfth Night.

While outlining the play in a meeting with Richard Burbage and the Fifth Doctor, Shakespeare described him as "a great fat man fond of ale who [was] in conflict with the upright servant" of the woman who fell in love with Viola, thinking her to be a man. He further added that Belch would "make it seem that the officious servant is mad for love of his mistress". Shakespeare devised the name for the character shortly after Burbage "gave vent to the wind" during the meeting. (PROSE: Diary Extract)