Queen Elizabeth II, Sir David Attenborough and James Bond have been named the most popular British cultural figures in a survey. The late monarch was voted the greatest “cultural icon” in the UK from the last 90 years, with 41% selecting her in a survey conducted to mark the 90th anniversary of the British Council, the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations. Broadcaster and naturalist Sir David came in a close second with 40% voting for him, followed by Diana, Princess of Wales, former prime minister Winston Churchill and Queen frontman Freddie Mercury.
Daniel Craig is the last actor to portray James Bond (Suzan Moore/PA) Dame Judi Dench and Catherine, Princess of Wales also proved popular with 16% voting for each. British MI6 agent Bond was named the UK’s greatest “fictional icon” from the last 90 years, with 42%. Other fictional figures on the list were Harry Potter (34%), Only Fools And Horses’ Del Boy (27%), and Paddington Bear and Doctor Who (both 25%).
Nelson Mandela at the concert honouring his 90th birthday in Hyde Park (Ian West/PA) It was a tight race for best British albums from the last 90 years, with Pink Floyd’s The Dark Side Of The Moon and The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band both selected by more than a fifth of people (21%). JRR Tolkien’s The Lord Of The Rings series was voted the best fiction novel written by a UK author in the last 90 years (31%), while Danny Boyle’s Trainspotting was voted as the best .