In a nation-wide survey conducted by OnePoll to mark the 90th anniversary of the British Council, the UK public has voted Trainspotting as the greatest UK film from the last 90 years.
The survey asked 2,500 adults of all ages across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland to vote for the top UK cultural icons and moments from the past nine decades. The film, based on Irvine Welsh's novel, topped the UK-wide poll with 20 per cent of the vote, polling even higher in Scotland, with 26 per cent of respondents voting for the Edinburgh-set film.
Across the UK, Queen Elizabeth II topped the poll as the greatest British icon from the last 90 years, with Sir David Attenborough named as the greatest living British cultural icon, and James Bond voted the UK’s greatest fictional icon.
Key responses from Scottish participants in the British Council's UK-wide '90 Years of Culture' survey:
- Trainspotting voted best British film of the last 90 years, with 26 per cent of Scottish respondents choosing the 1996 film - higher than in other parts of the UK.
- Scots chose Queen Elizabeth II and Sir David Attenborough as the greatest British icons from the last 90 years, followed by Diana, Princess of Wales, Winston Churchill, and Freddie Mercury.
- Sir David Attenborough named greatest living UK cultural icon, followed closely by Billy Connolly.
- James Bond voted the UK's greatest fictional icon, followed by Harry Potter, Paddington Bear, Del Boy, and Doctor Who.
- The foundation of the NHS voted most significant UK cultural moment from the last 90 years, followed by Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, and Live Aid Wembley.
- Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon voted best British album with The Lord of the Rings chosen as best fiction novel written by a UK author.
39 per cent of Scots surveyed voted for Queen Elizabeth II and Sir David Attenborough as the greatest cultural icons from the last 90 years, with Princess Diana (29 per cent), Winston Churchill (24 per cent), and Freddie Mercury (22 per cent) also proving to be the most iconic.
When asked about the greatest living UK icon, 49 per cent of Scots voted for Sir David Attenborough, with 27 per cent voting for Billy Connolly, 20 per cent for the Beatles’ Sir Paul McCartney, and Elton John, followed by Dame Judi Dench and Catherine, Princess of Wales (15 per cent).
Scots named James Bond as the UK’s greatest fictional icon from the last 90 years with some 41 per cent of respondents voting for 007, followed by Harry Potter (36 per cent), Paddington Bear (27 per cent), Only Fools and Horses’ Del Boy (24 per cent), and Doctor Who (23 per cent).
Nelson Mandela was voted the world’s most important non-UK cultural icon from the last 90 years (29 per cent), followed by Elvis Presley and Albert Einstein (27 per cent), Walt Disney (23 per cent), and Martin Luther King Junior (22 per cent).
Looking at the best British albums from the last 90 years, more than a fifth of Scots surveyed (21 per cent) believe that Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon is the best UK album. Also polling highly were Beatles’ albums Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band (20 per cent) and the Beatles’ Abbey Road and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John (18 per cent).
The Lord of the Rings was voted the best fiction novel written by a UK author in the last 90 years (28 per cent), followed by Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and George Orwell’s 1984 (25 per cent).
The UK public voted Trainspotting as the greatest British film from the last 90 years (20 per cent), with Danny Boyle’s movie proving even more popular in Scotland, with 26 per cent of people voting for the 1996 film.
Also proving poplar were Monty Python’s Life of Brian and Four Weddings and a Funeral (16 per cent), polling greater than Scottish films Gregory’s Girl (14 per cent) and Local Hero (13 per cent).
According to the poll, the most significant UK cultural moment from the last 90 years was the foundation of the NHS (46 per cent), followed by Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral (29 per cent) and Live Aid Wembley (23 per cent).
The end of World War II was voted the most significant global cultural moment from the last 90 years (35 per cent). This was followed by the first man on the moon and the demolition of the Berlin wall (29 per cent).
Peter Brown, Director Scotland, British Council highlighted Scottish connections in the survey results: "It's fascinating to see how many of the UK's most celebrated cultural icons and moments have strong Scottish connections. From Trainspotting being voted the greatest UK film, to James Bond – who we know is Scottish – being named the top fictional icon, Scotland's influence is clear.
“Queen Elizabeth II had a well-known love of Scotland, so it’s poignant to see that reflected in Scots’ appreciation of the late Queen. The British Council is a cultural organisation and we’re always trying to find new ways of connecting with and understanding each other through arts and culture, so it’s hugely interesting to see the views of some 2500 people from across the UK represented in this survey, marking 90 years of our work.”
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