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86 replies

MrCollinsandhisboiledpotatoes · 19/05/2026 20:12

In light of David Attenborough's (obviously a national treasure, I will not be taking questions) 100th birthday and all the well deserved fuss, who else makes your pride of Britain list for list for national treasures?

To make it interesting, you can only have five, and they must be alive, if we have dead people we'll be here all night. So sadly no Maggie Smiths or Princess Dianas.

I am still thinking of mine, and will update....

OP posts:
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shellyleppard · 20/05/2026 17:28

@MamaBobo hes my all time favourite. My teenage sons listen to a lot of his music too ❤️

MamaBobo · 20/05/2026 17:26

Michael Palin
Joanna Lumley
Julie Walters
Alison Steadman
Patrick Stewart

Although I hugely admire people like Maggie Aderin Pocock and Hannah Fry I feel that they won’t be National Treasures until they are older, that a National Treasure is someone of a more mature vintage!

I loved Phil Collins back in the day @shellyleppard and it makes me a bit sad to see him as a frail old man. I saw the photos of him at the King’s Trust Garden Party the other day and I was surprised at how happy I felt to see him with Jill again. The teenage crush may have gone but obviously I still care!

TwoPercentForLookingInTheMirrorTwice · 20/05/2026 17:10

Melarus · 20/05/2026 08:10

Definitely not John Cleese - awful man

I'd add:

Kelly Macdonald
Mackenzie Crook
Toby Jones (as night follows day...)
Maggie Aderin-Pocock
Michael Rosen

Why do you think John Cleese is awful?

Teenagequeenwithaloadedgun · 20/05/2026 16:56

David Mitchell
Bob Mortimer
Louie Theroux
Emma Thompson
Lucy Worsley

darksided · 20/05/2026 16:55

Kate Bush x 5

Okiedokie123 · 20/05/2026 16:52

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · 19/05/2026 22:45

Definitely not Attenborough

What is your objection to him?

Okiedokie123 · 20/05/2026 16:50

@emmetgirl I 100% would have agreed with you re Olivia Coleman until recently when she made it very clear that she thinks of herself as a gay man. Shes now firmly off my list!

Women
Dame Judi
Mel and Sue
Helen Mirren
Mary Beard
Sharon Davies
JK Rowling

which yes I know is 7 but actually 6 because I adore Mel and Sue together like Ant and Dec! I shall continue to ponder men.

ObelixtheGaul · 20/05/2026 16:32

Mackenzie Crook
Simon Weston
Katy Piper
Judi Dench
David Suchet.

twilightermummy · 20/05/2026 16:16

Julie Walters
Joanna Lumley
Lewis Hamilton
Hugh Grant
Chris Packham

DeathBanana · 20/05/2026 16:15

I’m surprised that Martin Lewis hasn’t featured. I know he’s one of those people take against (because they don’t like being told what to do in a passionate manner). But there can’t be many people who haven’t saved a few quid, stood up to insurance companies, switched their energy supplier, understood compound interest or just become a bit more educated about finances due to him.

CoffeeCantata · 20/05/2026 14:38

Please not Stephen Fry.

So, so smug. I get the impression he'd be lovely as long as you flattered him...

Collarding · 20/05/2026 14:28

The Traitors put me right off Stephen Fry. His faux modesty about being clever and well-read, combined with his ineptitude at the game!

Inextremis · 20/05/2026 14:10

Jennifer Saunders
Jo Brand
Stephen Fry
Tony Blackburn
Helena Bonham-Carter

McSpoot · 20/05/2026 13:58

ChocolateAddictAlways · 20/05/2026 13:23

I went rogue and just picked 5 people of each gender 😅

I probaby should have clarified that!

Show quote history

Naomi would approve of going rogue ;)

ChocolateAddictAlways · 20/05/2026 13:23

McSpoot · 20/05/2026 12:42

Naomi Klein is Canadian.

Show quote history

I went rogue and just picked 5 people of each gender 😅

I probaby should have clarified that!

McSpoot · 20/05/2026 12:42

ChocolateAddictAlways · 20/05/2026 10:01

5 Women
Naomi Klein
Roxane Gay
Afua Hirsch
Josie Long
Fatiha El Ghorri

5 Men
Louis Theroux
Misan Harriman
Alexei Sayle
Michael Rosen
Ta Nehisi Coates

Naomi Klein is Canadian.

Sartre · 20/05/2026 10:22

Mary Beard
Bob Mortimer
Michael Rosen
Jacqueline Wilson

Gallowayan · 20/05/2026 10:20

Allan Bennett
Tony Blair
Van Morrison
Ade Edmondson
Rick Gervaise

ChocolateAddictAlways · 20/05/2026 10:01

5 Women
Naomi Klein
Roxane Gay
Afua Hirsch
Josie Long
Fatiha El Ghorri

5 Men
Louis Theroux
Misan Harriman
Alexei Sayle
Michael Rosen
Ta Nehisi Coates

Collarding · 20/05/2026 09:44

Kristin Scott Thomas

Given my view on royalty, I am surprised but I have a soft spot for Princess Anne.

Shame there not more women mentioned. We still have a way to go!

Priceyyy · 20/05/2026 08:42

David Jason

CoffeeCantata · 20/05/2026 08:30

And Mackenzie Crook.

I'll get my coat now...

CoffeeCantata · 20/05/2026 08:30

Oh - and Maggie Aderin-Pocock, astronomer...she is wonderful.

Sorry if that's 6.

CoffeeCantata · 20/05/2026 08:29

OP - DA is more like God to me - I dread him leaving us...

My list:

Roderick Williams (singer and all-round lovely man)
Claire Tomalin - biographer
Dan Snow - historian
Lucy Worsley
Sarah Waters - our best contemporary novelist, I think.

QuintadosMalvados · 20/05/2026 08:20

Nigel Blackwell.
John Lydon.
Derek Jacobi.
JKR.
Gary from Gary Eats.

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