Top 100

[brionon]

Yesterday on a Quizz it was said that in the Top 100 Brits ever ,were Cliff Richard, Tony Blair and Elizabeth 2nd.
Where did this list come from ? If my fellow Brits then -I wonder at your Stupidity. But can this be true ?

[tiggerblue10]

Depends where in the top 100 they are. I would certainly hope that Elizabeth I comes way above Elizabeth II.

[Oneeyedvic]

Poll was here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/tv_an d_radio/2341661.stm

(are you that stupid that you can't type in Top 100 Britons into Google and find it yourself?) :-)

[justmetoo]

thats not very friendly oneeyed.......

[brionon]

Really-My countrymen/women voted for those 3 as the most important Brits EVER ? No wonder the Country is in decline. What idiots !

[brionon]

What a nice person you are. And -I have.

[THECORBYLOON]

If you have a look at the full list, there's quite a few entertainers and non-Britons in it, Bob Geldof and Bono for example. Those who were born in the British Isles or have lived in the British Isles are counted as British for reasons unknown....

[Quinlad]

As expected....

A fluffy piece of news filler gets published and it immediately gets linked to the decline of the nation.

We're all doooooooooooomed!

[jake-the-peg]

Wasn't this 6 years ago?

You remember 2002!

After Blair negotiated Peace in Northern Ireland and before we were embroiled in Iraq.

A good example of why we wait for people to die before butting them on things like bank notes!

[flip_flop]

John Lennon? Really?

Whilst not my cup of tea, I'll accept he made a few reasonable songs, but come on - in the top ten of the greatest Britons for writing and performing songs?

Jesus Christ, what sort of vacuous idiot would seriously vote for him as one of the greatest Britons?

[anotheoldgit]

There are two who should definitely not be included and they are John Lennon and Princess Diana.

To include these two when leaving out such people as,
James Watt
George Stevenson
Sir Frank Whittle
John Constable
David Livingstone

The list is endless, before ever considering a pop star and a young woman that happened to marry the next in line to the throne.

It is interesting to note when thinking of great British persons, one tends to think of those in the past, but then I can't think of anyone alive today that comes anywhere close to these historic greats.

[Quinlad]

Talk us through your logic there, AOG.

Why should a painter qualify but not a musician?

Incidentally, I can think of several people alive today who will probably be considered historic greats after their death.

[anotheoldgit]

Quinlad
True Lennon could play a tune on a guitar, and write a few songs, many others can also, but you cannot compare him to Constable who produced many masterpieces that are world known and worth many thousands of pounds.

In a hundred years time I don't think he will stand aside other famous musicians such as Elgar or even Gilbert and Sullivan.

It would be interesting for you to name these present day persons who you consider will be historic greats after their deaths.

[TheUnderTow]

Quite - John Lennon isn't known all over the world is he!? I suppose all he did was qrite a couple fo tunes and that's all. Not also work to promote peace and understanding throughout the world and bring millions of people together from all corners of the globe in mourning when he died. Constable was a great artist but not a true innovator like Lennon. I think you'll probably find that Lennon will be remembered for a very long time for changing the face of music in the sixties.

[Haggisdj]

anotheoldgit - whilst I actually do agree with a lot of your post I have to say this time that John Lennon, as part of the Lennon & McCartney song writing partnership, will be remembered for ever.

NB I have not bowed to Paul McCarney's re-naming of the duo, McCartney & Lennon!!!

[Quinlad]

As I thought, no actual logic. Just personal preference.

Lennon has written many songs that are considered masterpieces, are known the world over, and are worth many millions of pounds. Some would argue that he changed the face of popular music for good. He was also a passionate peace protestor.

But it's just new-fangled popular beat music to you.

Okay, here are a few - just off the top of my head.

Tim Berners-Lee
Ian McEwan
David Bowie
Sir Ranulph Feinnes
Sir David Attenborough
Stephen Hawking

[flip_flop]

Oh purlease - he sat in bed with an ugly bird for a bit and all of a sudden he's a demi-god promoting world peace?

Well I managed to stay in bed until 11am yesterday morning to promote, errr, ummm - oh I know, to promote an end to the disgraceful practice of waiters asking me every two minutes if I am enjoying my meal.

Can I have an airport named after me please? - or if not an airport, how about a car park?

I can't imagine (Imagine - get it?) for a minute that his laying around in bed made any difference at all.

[Davethedog]

Oldgit name constables "many" masterpieces. Turgid ladscapes of the same place. Turner and Stubbs are great artists.

Lennon was both a songwriting genius and an innovator, his bed in highlighted what was happening in Vietnam in a time when the only available media towed the party line.