National Treasure - I don't think so

It is irritating, I am baffled why Barbara Windsor is considered a national treasure, her affairs, friendship with the Krays is to be applauded ?

Surely it should be someone with a skill which is rare ie that person who can make coracles or build drystone walls or know how to thatch a roof.in the Far East I have come across national treasures who do paper cutting by hand and wax dying traditional cloth. Never an idiot politician.

I suppose Barbara Windsor has certainly given a lot to stage and screen over the years (I doubt many judge her for her past private life), but Ed Balls???

He may be this year's Strictly novelty act and he's not lacking in enthusiasm, but how anyone could possibly describe him as a 'National Treasure' is beyond me...for a start, he's only 49!

I didn't know he had been classed as this,

Apparently Ed Milliband bestowed the accolade. Obviously talking out the top of his head as per usual.

Oh a joke , thought he had been given some award

I hate 'National Treasure' and the 'People's anything'.

I had to look up Barbara Windsor. I can't be the only gransnetter who couldn't give a rat's fart who famous people are or why they are famous unless they've done something really impressive. I do seem to be the only one who admits it though.

If Ed Balls is called a national treasure for dancing on Strictly (never watched it, mainly because of not having a telly, but I don't think I'd watch it even if I did), then clearly the meaning of the phrase "national treasure" is fairly close to nonsense. Scoffing, as in the OP, strikes me as the only sensible response.

thatbags you are so young ! go on, admit it, you are only forty five.
Alan Bennet is usually called a National Treasure ( probably much to his annoyance.)

It's certainly a very over used phrase. The only people I can think of at the moment who might qualify are Judi Dench and David Attenborough. Both people who will leave the world an emptier place when they die.

I have ambitions tobe a national treasure but it must bevery hard.

and I might be gone quietsoon.

The sooner the better??????
No offence meant !

I used to agree with regard to David Attenborough but I've gone off him in the last few years because of his very anti-human ideas.

Like vampirequeen I really dislike the term "national treasure" it is horribly patronising.
Just as bad is "The nations favourite" whatever.

Going to be quiet soon, Nanabigboobs? We can all get some sleep then

I must agree with vampirequeen about "The People's" anything. I blame Tony Blair for starting it with Diana.

National treasure = twit

Isn't "National Treasure" just a showbiz term nowadays? A bit like most things being sensationalised for media content/sales? It's all about labelling IMO.

Can't stand any of the "Attenboroughs" so definitely wouldn't put them in the frame. Agree Barbara Windsor has a very dodgy past so not her either.

Maybe (and it's a big maybe) my list would include Judi Dench, and Julie Walters. Can't think of anyone else at the moment. Definitely no politicians from any side .

We have lost National Treasures this year, Sir Terry and Ronnie Corbett, David Bowie. I don't like Barbara Windsor. But I do think that some older "celebs" (a term I also hate) should give up before they lose it, David Attenborough, Brucie, (Phil Schofield, Holly Willoughby, Davina). I do get fed up of seeing the same old faces from the same pack of people, Ant and Dec, Stephen Mulhern, Rylan, Fern Cotton, they are all from the same clan, boring really. I don't watch them now.

Treasure means a quantity of precious metals, gems, or other valuable objects. So I guess you could say that the Crown Jewels are a national treasure but a person? The likes of Terry Wogan, Ronnie Corbett and David Bowie were talented in their fields and brought a lot of pleasure to many people but that was their job for which they were very well paid. If we needed to we could sell the Crown Jewels (shhhh don't let Teresa May know) but we couldn't sell a person.

This is what the Cambride dictionary says:

National treasure - noun
an artefact, institution, or public figure regarded as being emblematic of a nation's cultural heritage or identity.

Cambridge - my keyboard seems to have a problem with 'g' these days.