Favourite Britons?

[Kromovaracun]

So, who are your favourite Britons in history? Sorry for the British focus, but that's where nearly all the ABer's I'm aware of are from.

Nominees must preferably number no more than 5, and should be born in the British isles (there are plenty of great British subjects, but it rather complicates things).

Please state the reasons for your nominations, as it makes things more interesting. I shall add mine in another post later...

[helpmetoo]

Jeremy Clarkson
He isnt afraid to tell it how it is

[helpmetoo]

Jeremy clarkson
He tells it how it is, we should all sit up and notice

[red mikey]

i believe it wasnt a single briton but i whole number of them. i think all the men who helped to build our empire. also the men who were at rorkes drift against 4000 zulu warriors and ther was only about 136 of our lads. also all the men who fought in both world wars. you cannot have a single greatest briton.

[Kromovaracun]

'twas 85 men at Rorke's Drift. Plus, if you were to nominate the people who built the empire - you'd have to opt for several businessmen, petty merchants convicts, generic emigrants...

Nothing wrong with the idea of there being no one greatest Briton, but the original question is who your favourite is. There have indesputably been individuals - like Attlee and Thatcher - who have had a considerable impact on the way the UK is today, or others who have made notable achievements important to the modern world - like Turing.