Politicians absent from top-10 celebrity list
England’s football captain David Beckham is the most popular celebrity in Britain, according to a new survey.
Academics at the University of Leicester project asked two and a half thousand people to name their favourite idols. Runners up to the Real Madrid star include Brad Pitt and Justin Timberlake.
For politicians the story was a little different. Labour leader Tony Blair can only claim to have as many fans as US illusionist David Blaine, Pop Idol singer Gareth Gates and model Kate Moss.
And not one single person voted for Tory leader Michael Howard or the Lib Dems’ Charles Kennedy.
US George W Bush received the same number of votes as Jesus.
Former South African President Nelson Mandela was the only politician to receive a high ranking in the list, placed at number 14, three spots behind Diana, Princess of Wales.
Dr Adrian North of Leicester’s School of Psychology said he wanted to research why Brits were fascinated and obsessed by public figures.
“Although people could have voted for great political thinkers or artists, their top ten comprised Hollywood stars, pop musicians and a footballer,” said Dr North.
“What links all the names in our top 10 is not their great minds but their great looks.”
The study found the top five celebrity professions in the UK to be acting, music, sports, TV and radio, and politics.
The top 10 list of celebrities is as follows: David Beckham, Brad Pitt, Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, Jennifer Lopez, Robbie Williams, Orlando Bloom, Britney Spears, Keanu Reeves and Angelina Jolie.
