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Chris Peckham , better move this to the bear pit
I thought it might be a pleasant diversion to list and honour some of those we consider to have reached the heady heights of National Treasure.
To attempt to keep the thread on track and bearing in mind that we are in The George & Dragon (No politics or religion) here are some simple suggestions:
1. The NT (national treasure) should be British or have strong associations with the UK.
2. They are alive.
3. Should the NT die, they would attract an obit on national media, press or broadcast.
4. List no more than three NTs. You can if you wish, provide a brief discourse on why you feel they should be accorded NT Status.
5. No politicians or religious leaders, as per GD rules.
I'm going with a naturalist / lovey sandwich.
1. David Attenborough - clearly a towering figure in broadcasting, natural sciences and conservation.
2. Stephen Fry - a funny, humane, rationalist.
3. Chris Packham - he combines aspects of the other two and I'm impressed by his overcoming his condition to work in the field that he does. He has excellent musical taste too. :)
And you?
Chris Peckham , better move this to the bear pit
I can only think of one currently but David Jason for very obvious reasons.
Billy Connolly (although his illness has already led to numerous tributes before even shuffling off his mortal coil)
Ian McKellen? Derek Jacobi?
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Sound choices, you'll have seen Vicious, I trust. :)Originally Posted by Saint-Just
David
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
That raised a wry smile.
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Cushty. :)
David
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
Good idea for a thread. I will nominate Billy Connolly, his nomination speaks for itself really. (oops I see its a second nomination now :) )
It saddens me greatly that Christopher Hitchens and David Bowie are ineligible.
Certainly not to everyone's tastes but definitely to mine.
David
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
Yes indeed. C Hitchens would have been on my list if living. P Hitchens, not so much.
David
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
Any of the Stones (bar Keith as no one here will live long enough to read his obituary) and Sir Paul
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Brian Blessed has to be in there
Bobby Charlton - jumpers for goalposts
Twiggy - shwinging sixties
Mike Leigh - very British films
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Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Miriam Margolyes
z
Dame Judi Dench for me too
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Great call. Master of understatement and stiff upper lip
It would be Mick P for me.
Vicious was brilliant.
Absolutely.
'Against stupidity, the gods themselves struggle in vain' - Schiller.
Beat me to it. Miriam should have had her Damehood years ago.
Rowan Atkinson
Clarkson
Ian Hislop
Ian McShane. My favourite tv series, Lovejoy
I'm going to go with Professor Sarah Gilbert and Dr Catherine Green (joint) for their work on the COVID vaccine.
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Can’t hardly think of any - all those who fit my notion of an NT…….. are dead already!
Bruce Forsyth
Ronnie Barker
Ronnie Corbet,
Eric Morcambe
Cilla (no surprise)
Dianna Rigg
(off the top of my head)
Louis Theroux
Dame Helen Mirren
Stephen Fry
Alan Moore
Daniel Day Lewis
Helena Bonham Carter
Just one for me - John Cooper Clarke.
Edit: just thought of another - Peter Kay.
Last edited by SimonK; 19th February 2023 at 20:35.
Graeme Garden
Don't just do something, sit there. - TNH
Good list.
I'd add
Michael Moorcock.
Hugh Laurie - you can't have Jeeves without Wooster.
Steven Patrick Morrissey although it was a close call with Bernard Summers.
Roger McGough
Richard Thompson
Paul Merton
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Michael Palin
Elvis Costello
David Gilmour
On second thought, Nick Mason would be more fun to have over for dinner (my chief criterion for NT)
Last edited by MadeOfCheese; 19th February 2023 at 22:01.
Katie Piper
Simon Weston
Bill Bailey
Susie Dent
Jo Brand
Using the OP's guide
1 Paul McCartney
2 Billy Connolly
3 Michael Palin
Honourable mentions ( less honours) - Stephen Fry, Elton John, David Attenbourgh, Judy Dench, Michael Caine , Trevor McDonald, Mick Jagger ; Rowan Atkinson; Hugh Lawrie; Bill Nighy; Kate Bush; Ian McKellan ; Helen Mirran; Michael Gambon; Emma Thompson; Alex Ferguson; David Jason; Joanna Lumley; Ian McKellen ;Patrick Stewart ; Jackie Stewart; Brian Cox.. etc
Last edited by stiglet; 20th February 2023 at 14:20.
Kate Bush, and I claim five pounds.
Sir Chris Hoy
Yes.
No.
Yes. Most definitely.
David
Infinite Diversity in Infinite Combinations
Jimmy Page
Gordon Sumner
Tim Berners Lee.
Good shout,
I would add Jason Kenny.
Certainly out of all the performing arts Paul McCartney is our ultimate living national treasure, even if you don't like him he just is. By a country mile. And then some.
Elsewhere in the arts Elton John and Cliff Richard along with Tom Jones would all receive a lot of coverage. As of course would a Rolling Stone, although as someone else said earlier, none of us will outlive Keef anyway.
Outside of the performing arts David Attenborough needs no mention, he has to be close to the top of anyone's list.
Last edited by Ruggertech; 20th February 2023 at 09:16.
These probably don't have much appeal for the TZ-UK demographic, but certain sections of society would nominate them:
Alan Titmunch
Graham Norton
Ashley Banjo
From the acting world: Olivia Coleman
Future National Luvvies, if they continue on their current courses:
Jay Blades
Ralph Twistleton-Wykeham Fiennes
Mark Strong
Maggie Smith
Julie Walters
(Dench and Attenborough have already been covered)
Need to think more about third.
1. Rory McIlroy - sublime golfer, grounded human being, using his platform of talent, celebrity and wealth to protect, change and grow something he believes in.
2. Paul Kaye - he has morphed and got better with age, when he was great to start with.
3. Bob Mortimer - pocket meat. Legend (and imo was always the funny one of the original pair)
Honorable mention to Sacha Baron-Cohen. Same reasons as Paul Kaye. I only wish Ali G was around to bring a different angle to the woke movement of the last few years.
What about Dame Helen Mirren on the list somewhere?
I would go with Ian Wright. I think he's brought a passion for the game that goes beyond the clubs he played for.
He has mentored many, many, coaches and players. He has supported the women's game long before most cared. He is a shining example of how to be passionate, without being arrogant. And he overcame great adversity and tragedy in his own life to find success.
He's by all accounts a kind and thoughtful man and someone I believe to be widely respected.
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Good shout (coming from a Man Utd fan)
Ant
Dec
HAHA...but yes probably one day.
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