Who are National Treasures these days?

[SiulaGrande]

DD has been adamant only the Queen and David Attenborough are national treasures. I beg to differ but am finding it hard to think of people! (I do have Covid though).

After bit more discussion, she's added Lenny Henry, and Maggie Smith "at a push". She's 12.

So who do you say are currently national treasures, personality-wise?

The physicist

Alan Bennett
Paul O'Grady
Dame Judi
Miriam Margoyles
Michael Ball in a few years?

David Beckham and Linekar my arse!

Attenborough
Billy Connolly
Louis Theroux
Emma Thompson
Kathy Burke

Jamie Oliver

Oh and Keith Richards!!!

Professor Sarah Gilbert

Sir David
Sir Ian
Dame Judy
Dame Maggie
The Queen.

JK Rowling
Kathy Burke
Julie Walters

That'd be a fun dinner party

Russell T Davies

Kathy Burke.

Mary beard and Julia Donaldson

Rowan Atkinson.

National treasures are people who are popular across the generations, are perceived as being warm and kind, and have actually achieved something.This rules out Gary Liniker and David Beckham ( have you read the Sony leaks?) Neither of them have won anything for the country. Hugh Grant thrives on being unlikeable. And Rylan has never achieved anything other than being able to cry and overdramatise on demand. Oh and take tons of time off work.

Oh, I feel so much better now.

Jimmy Anderson. When the useless selectors decide to pick him.

Alison steadman
Sandi toksvig

@Libertaire

Jimmy Anderson. When the useless selectors decide to pick him.

Finally, someone posted someone I really admire! Jimmy all the way.

Joanna Lumley is the only other one on this thread I can stand. And let me add Brian Blessed.

Tim Peake

Alex Belfield.

I like Paul O' Grady. I do not care what anyone else says about him. I saw him in 'Annie' at the Alhambra Theatre in Bradford when my children were small. He played 'Miss Hannigan'. That man wore high heels and danced his socks off, and boy he can dance.

I had previously disliked him because of 'Lily Savage.'
After I saw him in 'Annie' I loved him and admired him for the trooper he was and now he can do no wrong for me.

Ken Clarke is fab
Michael Portillo is lovely
And so is Davina McCall
George Michael was lovely too

Not sure what a 'national treasure' is tbh

@madisonbridges

National treasures are people who are popular across the generations, are perceived as being warm and kind, and have actually achieved something.This rules out Gary Liniker and David Beckham ( have you read the Sony leaks?) Neither of them have won anything for the country. Hugh Grant thrives on being unlikeable. And Rylan has never achieved anything other than being able to cry and overdramatise on demand. Oh and take tons of time off work.

Oh, I feel so much better now.

And he is awfully rude to his mum on Celeb Gogglebox (Rylan behave yourself if you are reading this) You don't tell your mum to fuck off

David Attenborough
Hue Edwards.. perfect newsreader

@madisonbridges I don't agree they need to have achieved something per se, they just have to be popular and good at what they do. Rylan has achieved as much (popularity/constantly in demand for presenting jobs) as most of the other names suggested above. I actually agree that he is heading towards NT territory.

Also agree with Stephen Fry and Graham Norton, oh and Paul O'Grady. And yes, John Finnemore should be, but I don't think is well known enough to qualify.

David Attenborough
Judy Dench
Stephen Fry
Julie Walters
Maggie Smith
Eileen Atkins
Alison Steadman
Timothy West
Prunella Scales
Brenda Blethyn
Tom Jones
Jools Holland
Michael Sheen
Emma Thompson
Kelly Holmes

Rylan and Liza Tarbuck

Oh yes to BRIAN BLESSED