Living British Icons

Cafe Society
1

The BBC are holding a poll to decide the greatest living British cultural icon and, with two days to go (it closes 11.00 am London time on Monday). the three contenders are David Attenborough, Paul McCartney and … Morrissey. :smack: What’s worse, Morrissey is in the lead. :smack: :smack:

So please, all you Brit dopers - and American dopers if you wanna - go here and vote for David Attenborough (OK you can vote for McCartney if you want but, honestly, somebody who can, with a straight face, write the line *“in this world in which we live in” * is semi-literate, not a cultural icon.)

PLease. Do it for the gorillas (and all the other beasties).

2

A slight hijack, but since you brought it up: I thought the line was “If this ever-changing world in which we live in…”

Makes sense that way.

Sir Rhosis

3

Still one “in” too many.

4

:confused: Nobody from Monty Python even made the runners-up?! Are they all nuckin’ futs at the BBC?!

5

Where’s the love for David Jason? Can’t believe he doesn’t feature.

6

I sometimes think that Python is much bigger in the US than it is in the UK, at least nowadays.

7

Re “Live and Let Die”, if you’re a fan of Sir Thumbs-aloft you may prefer to believe that it’s "but if this ever-changing world in which we’re livin’ ".

Anyway, it should be pointed out that this thing is not some earnest national quest to find the greatest living Briton, it’s just a frivolous poll on a fairly obscure BBC programme. Me, I would vote for Macca even though I’m more of a Lennon man. He’s still a Beatle. I mean, I’d vote for Ringo if that was the only option.

8

I’m surprised Michael Palin didn’t make it into at least the top ten for his travel programmes as well as Python. No David Jason, either. Macca is there, I guess, as the surviving half of Lennon/McCartney.

I still cannot believe that Morrissey is in there, though.

9

How about the talented, distinguished British actorly types not in the top ten? (Since at least they do have Michael Caine and Stephen Fry).

Judy Dench
Emma Thompson
Maggie Smith
Alan Rickman

(Funny how three of them have appeared in Harry Potter movies)

At least there’s no Robbie Williams in the top ten.

10

When I brought it up with the wife, she pointed out the Rolling Stones. Mick Jagger is certainly far more of an icon than most anybody on that list.

I call BS on the list, and on all of these TV show “we’re cool enough and authority enough to make definitive lists.” Blech.

11

I may be an old fogey, but who the heck is Morrissey? The name and face aren’t ringing any bells here.

Good lord, that is one pathetic list. Can you vote for none of the above?

12

I’m kind of shocked that Fry made the list and none of the Pythons did.

I mean, I’m stoked for Fry but I bet even HE would tell you he’s not as famous as John Cleese!

13

Pardon my bland, U.S. Midwestern upbringing, but isn’t the Queen the greatest living British cultural icon?

And I thought the line was supposed to be “But in this ever-changing world in which we’re livin’”

14

I believe hes an odd Gothic type who used to be in an anti establishment band called “the Smiths” in the seventies,but it might well be a completely different Morissey. :slight_smile:

15

See, the entire line goes “But if this ever-changing world in which we live in makes you give in and cry…” “If” clearly fits and that is exactly what it sounds like he sings to me. I’ll agree that the words " we’re livin’" instead of " we live in" would make the verse even better.

Sir Rhosis

16

To be fair, Attenborough is a god amongst men.

17

He may be a God to the creatures he spends his time with, but they aren’t men.

18

I think of him as “Angsty Guy” because he’s got a rather dark take on things. One site referred to him as the Master of Mope. Here’s a sampling: Life Is A Pigsty Lyrics by Morrissey

Signed,

– another Old Fogey

19

What, no love for Nicholas Parsons? :wink: