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National treasures. Who would you choose?

(93 Posts)
Bazza Fri 08-May-26 11:28:13

I don’t know if this has been done before, but as it’s David Attenborough’s 100th birthday today, who else do you consider to have this overused title? After Sir David, who I imagine is most people’s number one, I would say Michael Palin, Judy Dench and possibly controversially Joanna Lumley. I’ll probably think of more but they would be my top four.

MissAdventure Tue 12-May-26 22:11:51

Its lovely music actually, i think.

Rosie51 Tue 12-May-26 22:12:38

And while I was doing that and typing MissA goes and posts a link 🤣

Rosie51 Tue 12-May-26 22:13:18

MissAdventure

Its lovely music actually, i think.

It is a very good tune.

MissAdventure Tue 12-May-26 22:14:35

It was one of my real favourite programmes.
I can remember mum saying "move back from the telly, or you'll need glasses when you're older"
(She was right)

Chestnut Wed 13-May-26 00:14:34

I've just heard the newsreader say Bonnie Tyler is a national treasure. 👑

MissAdventure Wed 13-May-26 00:19:35

Blimey.

JamesandJon33 Wed 13-May-26 01:35:16

She probably is in Wales. We haven’t got that many .

ginny Wed 13-May-26 07:49:25

The only people that I would count as National treasures are those that go about helping others in many ways and for no profit for themselves.

Maggiemaybe Wed 13-May-26 08:20:30

I’d nominate Sheila Hancock, but she once said she hated being described as a national treasure just because she’d got to her nineties and could walk across a stage without falling over.

Chestnut Wed 13-May-26 08:49:36

JamesandJon33

She probably is in Wales. We haven’t got that many .

I can think of quite a few possible Welsh treasures though it's always debatable:
Tom Jones
Shirley Bassey
Anthony Hopkins
Michael Sheen
Rob Brydon
Catherine Jenkins
Bryn Terfel
There are other sports people and of course the deceased probably don't count any more.

JamesandJon33 Wed 13-May-26 10:44:36

Not many then.!

Elusivebutterfly Wed 13-May-26 11:33:02

David Attenborough is top for me but would add in J K Rowling.

Witzend Wed 13-May-26 11:41:55

Since I’ve just seen her mentioned elsewhere, Pam Ayres.

We’ve seen her live, and it was honestly the funniest evening we’ve ever had.

Some of her poems are very poignant, too - I’m thinking of ‘Tippy tappy feet’ about so badly missing a dog that’s died, and especially the one about the racehorse making his will before a race - leaving his packet of Polo mints to his stable mate - plus the mention of his jockey - ‘the nasty little short-arsed bastard’ IIRC.
I know Pam Ayres is viscerally opposed to horse racing
anyway.

Basgetti Wed 13-May-26 12:48:17

I wish I’d looked after my teeth 😬

Aveline Wed 13-May-26 15:15:34

I once met her at a book signing. She was lovely. Exactly as she seems on TV. Her poems are so good too, so touching.

Chestnut Wed 13-May-26 17:06:18

I would vote for Stephen Poliakoff although I realise many people won't know he's the most wonderful British playwright, director and screenwriter. My absolute favourite.
www.stephenpoliakoff.com/
In 2006 Gerard Gilbert of The Independent described him as the UK's "pre-eminent TV dramatist" and that he had "inherited Dennis Potter's crown"

sixandahalf Wed 13-May-26 17:11:26

Chestnut

I would vote for Stephen Poliakoff although I realise many people won't know he's the most wonderful British playwright, director and screenwriter. My absolute favourite.
www.stephenpoliakoff.com/
In 2006 Gerard Gilbert of The Independent described him as the UK's "pre-eminent TV dramatist" and that he had "inherited Dennis Potter's crown"

Phenomenal talent.