in England’s finest hours these were their kings and queens
in some cases figuratively in some cases
in some cases figuratively in some cases literally so to have someone like the
literally so to have someone like the
literally so to have someone like the Queen of England which is you know a
Queen of England which is you know a
Queen of England which is you know a sister country to us we feel we feel
sister country to us we feel we feel
sister country to us we feel we feel very closely close bonds of England
very closely close bonds of England
very closely close bonds of England welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re
welcome to watchmojo.com and today we’re counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten
counting down our picks for the top ten iconic Brits
for this list we are excluding those
for this list we are excluding those celebrities associated with America more
celebrities associated with America more
celebrities associated with America more than Britain so very sorry to all you
than Britain so very sorry to all you
than Britain so very sorry to all you Charlie Chaplin fans also we are solely
Charlie Chaplin fans also we are solely
Charlie Chaplin fans also we are solely including celebrities born in England
including celebrities born in England
including celebrities born in England and not those from Scotland Wales or
and not those from Scotland Wales or
and not those from Scotland Wales or Ireland
considered the greatest Victorian
considered the greatest Victorian novelist ever this writer and critic of
novelist ever this writer and critic of
novelist ever this writer and critic of 19th century England wrote of the
19th century England wrote of the
19th century England wrote of the country’s best of times and its worst of
country’s best of times and its worst of
country’s best of times and its worst of times
times
times often commenting on the social ills that
often commenting on the social ills that
often commenting on the social ills that were occurring around him including
were occurring around him including
were occurring around him including poverty prejudice hypocrisy and more
poverty prejudice hypocrisy and more
poverty prejudice hypocrisy and more Dickens used his experiences to craft
Dickens used his experiences to craft
Dickens used his experiences to craft some of the most beloved known and
some of the most beloved known and
some of the most beloved known and timeless characters in all of literature
timeless characters in all of literature
timeless characters in all of literature and therefore I am about to raise your
and therefore I am about to raise your
and therefore I am about to raise your salary known as well today as he was in
salary known as well today as he was in
salary known as well today as he was in his own time Dickens and his legacy as
his own time Dickens and his legacy as
his own time Dickens and his legacy as an icon and British prose will continue
an icon and British prose will continue
an icon and British prose will continue to live on thanks to pieces of writing
to live on thanks to pieces of writing
to live on thanks to pieces of writing like great expectations a Christmas
like great expectations a Christmas
like great expectations a Christmas carol a Tale of Two Cities and Oliver
carol a Tale of Two Cities and Oliver
carol a Tale of Two Cities and Oliver Twist
Twist
Twist so if someone says stop being such a
so if someone says stop being such a
so if someone says stop being such a Scrooge we don’t have to have read
Scrooge we don’t have to have read
Scrooge we don’t have to have read Dickens Christmas Carol to know
Dickens Christmas Carol to know
Dickens Christmas Carol to know precisely what that person is telling us
precisely what that person is telling us
precisely what that person is telling us number nine Richard Branson I’ve done
number nine Richard Branson I’ve done
number nine Richard Branson I’ve done foolish things like trying to fly around
foolish things like trying to fly around
foolish things like trying to fly around the world in balloons British business
the world in balloons British business
the world in balloons British business tycoon and self-made billionaire Richard
tycoon and self-made billionaire Richard
tycoon and self-made billionaire Richard Branson is founder of Virgin Group a
Branson is founder of Virgin Group a
Branson is founder of Virgin Group a multinational made up of over 400
multinational made up of over 400
multinational made up of over 400 different affiliate companies including
different affiliate companies including
different affiliate companies including subsidiaries in the airline railway and
subsidiaries in the airline railway and
subsidiaries in the airline railway and mobile phone spaces as well as
mobile phone spaces as well as
mobile phone spaces as well as commercial space travel but it all
commercial space travel but it all
commercial space travel but it all started in the late 1960s with his
started in the late 1960s with his
started in the late 1960s with his record business and by the next decade
record business and by the next decade
record business and by the next decade Branson really began to amass his
Branson really began to amass his
Branson really began to amass his fortune with the Virgin Records record
fortune with the Virgin Records record
fortune with the Virgin Records record label further tussles with the places
label further tussles with the places
label further tussles with the places god save the queen’ was launched
god save the queen’ was launched
god save the queen’ was launched cemented virgins reputation as creative
cemented virgins reputation as creative
cemented virgins reputation as creative disruptors
disruptors
disruptors this culture of tearing up the rulebook
this culture of tearing up the rulebook
this culture of tearing up the rulebook had spread throughout the country
had spread throughout the country
had spread throughout the country thanks to Branson’s pioneering vision
thanks to Branson’s pioneering vision
thanks to Branson’s pioneering vision and boyish charm the brand eventually
and boyish charm the brand eventually
and boyish charm the brand eventually represented many groundbreaking acts and
represented many groundbreaking acts and
represented many groundbreaking acts and made Branson one of the UK’s ten richest
made Branson one of the UK’s ten richest
made Branson one of the UK’s ten richest citizens if you’re successful in life
citizens if you’re successful in life
citizens if you’re successful in life enormous wealth can go with that success
enormous wealth can go with that success
enormous wealth can go with that success if you have enormous wealth then
if you have enormous wealth then
if you have enormous wealth then enormous responsibility goes with it too
enormous responsibility goes with it too
enormous responsibility goes with it too number eight Charles Darwin Charles
number eight Charles Darwin Charles
number eight Charles Darwin Charles Darwin set off on a fateful voyage that
Darwin set off on a fateful voyage that
Darwin set off on a fateful voyage that would revolutionize our understanding of
would revolutionize our understanding of
would revolutionize our understanding of life’s great diversity survival of the
life’s great diversity survival of the
life’s great diversity survival of the fittest is the game of life so it’s no
fittest is the game of life so it’s no
fittest is the game of life so it’s no surprise that Charles Darwin’s theory of
surprise that Charles Darwin’s theory of
surprise that Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution propelled him onto our list
evolution propelled him onto our list
evolution propelled him onto our list his work on the Origin of Species
his work on the Origin of Species
his work on the Origin of Species proposed that all species of life
proposed that all species of life
proposed that all species of life descended over time from common
descended over time from common
descended over time from common ancestors originally there must have
ancestors originally there must have
ancestors originally there must have been just one type of finch in the
been just one type of finch in the
been just one type of finch in the Galapagos but over time it had
Galapagos but over time it had
Galapagos but over time it had diversified into many kinds not only has
diversified into many kinds not only has
diversified into many kinds not only has this naturalist helped the world’s
this naturalist helped the world’s
this naturalist helped the world’s understanding of Natural Sciences
understanding of Natural Sciences
understanding of Natural Sciences evolved he also revolutionized how
evolved he also revolutionized how
evolved he also revolutionized how humans think of their place in the
humans think of their place in the
humans think of their place in the universe and history it might have been
universe and history it might have been
universe and history it might have been an absolute prerequisite for us landing
an absolute prerequisite for us landing
an absolute prerequisite for us landing where we are today
where we are today
where we are today all of this has easily made him one of
all of this has easily made him one of
all of this has easily made him one of history’s most revolutionary scientists
history’s most revolutionary scientists
history’s most revolutionary scientists as well as one of the most famous
as well as one of the most famous
as well as one of the most famous Englishmen the scientists who carry on
Englishmen the scientists who carry on
Englishmen the scientists who carry on his legacy have advanced his work in
his legacy have advanced his work in
his legacy have advanced his work in wondrous ways number seven Margaret
wondrous ways number seven Margaret
wondrous ways number seven Margaret Thatcher the lady’s not for turning this
Thatcher the lady’s not for turning this
Thatcher the lady’s not for turning this Conservative Party leader was the
Conservative Party leader was the
Conservative Party leader was the longest-serving Prime Minister of the
longest-serving Prime Minister of the
longest-serving Prime Minister of the 20th century and is the only woman to
20th century and is the only woman to
20th century and is the only woman to have held Britain’s highest political
have held Britain’s highest political
have held Britain’s highest political office that way you will never create
office that way you will never create
office that way you will never create the world
hotcha policy uncompromising ferocious
hotcha policy uncompromising ferocious and cunning Thatcher was not only an
and cunning Thatcher was not only an
and cunning Thatcher was not only an icon in British history but also of
icon in British history but also of
icon in British history but also of conservative thought with her right-wing
conservative thought with her right-wing
conservative thought with her right-wing policies earning her adoration from the
policies earning her adoration from the
policies earning her adoration from the right and disapproval from the left
right and disapproval from the left
right and disapproval from the left especially when she cut funding to
especially when she cut funding to
especially when she cut funding to social programs diminished the power of
social programs diminished the power of
social programs diminished the power of the unions and privatized certain
the unions and privatized certain
the unions and privatized certain state-owned companies however regardless
state-owned companies however regardless
state-owned companies however regardless of your stance on her politics it’s
of your stance on her politics it’s
of your stance on her politics it’s difficult to deny the impact this Iron
difficult to deny the impact this Iron
difficult to deny the impact this Iron Lady had on twentieth century Britain
Lady had on twentieth century Britain
Lady had on twentieth century Britain where there is doubt may we bring faith
where there is doubt may we bring faith
where there is doubt may we bring faith and where those despair may be bring
and where those despair may be bring
and where those despair may be bring hope number six
hope number six
hope number six Sir Isaac Newton but then he had this
Sir Isaac Newton but then he had this
Sir Isaac Newton but then he had this enormous capacity to hyper-focus
enormous capacity to hyper-focus
enormous capacity to hyper-focus enormous capacity to ask fundamental
enormous capacity to ask fundamental
enormous capacity to ask fundamental questions and the ability to do
questions and the ability to do
questions and the ability to do experiments and to persist with a
experiments and to persist with a
experiments and to persist with a question known as the father of modern
question known as the father of modern
question known as the father of modern science and a significant figure in the
science and a significant figure in the
science and a significant figure in the Scientific Revolution this natural
Scientific Revolution this natural
Scientific Revolution this natural philosopher was a physicist and
philosopher was a physicist and
philosopher was a physicist and mathematician best known for his
mathematician best known for his
mathematician best known for his earth-shattering revelations in optics
earth-shattering revelations in optics
earth-shattering revelations in optics and he designed a remarkably and
and he designed a remarkably and
and he designed a remarkably and radically different kind of telescope
radically different kind of telescope
radically different kind of telescope from anything that had been built before
from anything that had been built before
from anything that had been built before calculus the laws of motion and famously
calculus the laws of motion and famously
calculus the laws of motion and famously universal gravitation bang he suddenly
universal gravitation bang he suddenly
universal gravitation bang he suddenly has the idea that’s the same thing
has the idea that’s the same thing
has the idea that’s the same thing that’s making the Apple falls what’s
that’s making the Apple falls what’s
that’s making the Apple falls what’s holding the moon in its orbit another
holding the moon in its orbit another
holding the moon in its orbit another man who’s considered a key figure in
man who’s considered a key figure in
man who’s considered a key figure in science history his book mathematical
science history his book mathematical
science history his book mathematical principles of natural philosophy has
principles of natural philosophy has
principles of natural philosophy has proved invaluable to the scientific
proved invaluable to the scientific
proved invaluable to the scientific world ultimately I think people rightly
world ultimately I think people rightly
world ultimately I think people rightly look back to newton’s principia
look back to newton’s principia
look back to newton’s principia mathematica as the foundation of modern
mathematica as the foundation of modern
mathematica as the foundation of modern science in fact without him Europe may
science in fact without him Europe may
science in fact without him Europe may never have undergone the Scientific
never have undergone the Scientific
never have undergone the Scientific Revolution it’s so desperately needed
Revolution it’s so desperately needed
Revolution it’s so desperately needed and the phrase what goes up must come
and the phrase what goes up must come
and the phrase what goes up must come down may never have even been proven
down may never have even been proven
down may never have even been proven true he was buried among kings and
true he was buried among kings and
true he was buried among kings and queens and Westminster Abbey beneath a
queens and Westminster Abbey beneath a
queens and Westminster Abbey beneath a monument to his scientific achievements
monument to his scientific achievements
monument to his scientific achievements number five queen elizabeth ii i declare
number five queen elizabeth ii i declare
number five queen elizabeth ii i declare before you all it’s my whole life
before you all it’s my whole life
before you all it’s my whole life whether it be long or so
whether it be long or so
whether it be long or so shall be devoted to your service and to
shall be devoted to your service and to
shall be devoted to your service and to the service of our great imperial family
the service of our great imperial family
the service of our great imperial family to which we all belong head of the
to which we all belong head of the
to which we all belong head of the commonwealth beginning with her
commonwealth beginning with her
commonwealth beginning with her ascension to the throne in 1952
ascension to the throne in 1952
ascension to the throne in 1952 elizabeth oversaw numerous significant
elizabeth oversaw numerous significant
elizabeth oversaw numerous significant changes throughout her tenure she very
changes throughout her tenure she very
changes throughout her tenure she very much leaves family to go off and find
much leaves family to go off and find
much leaves family to go off and find their own way and if you get it wrong
their own way and if you get it wrong
their own way and if you get it wrong stand by you back in your place through
stand by you back in your place through
stand by you back in your place through generations of anti-monarchist sentiment
generations of anti-monarchist sentiment
generations of anti-monarchist sentiment she deserves credit for maintaining the
she deserves credit for maintaining the
she deserves credit for maintaining the British monarchies overall support
British monarchies overall support
British monarchies overall support celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012
celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012
celebrating her Diamond Jubilee in 2012 Her Majesty became the oldest reigning
Her Majesty became the oldest reigning
Her Majesty became the oldest reigning monarch in the world as well as
monarch in the world as well as
monarch in the world as well as Britain’s longest served monarch and
Britain’s longest served monarch and
Britain’s longest served monarch and though the public isn’t privy to the
though the public isn’t privy to the
though the public isn’t privy to the inner workings of her personality she is
inner workings of her personality she is
inner workings of her personality she is still one of the most recognizable and
still one of the most recognizable and
still one of the most recognizable and known Brits ever long-lived the Queen in
known Brits ever long-lived the Queen in
known Brits ever long-lived the Queen in tomorrow’s world we must all work
tomorrow’s world we must all work
tomorrow’s world we must all work together as hard as ever if we are truly
together as hard as ever if we are truly
together as hard as ever if we are truly to be United Nations number four Diana
to be United Nations number four Diana
to be United Nations number four Diana Princess of Wales and if you wanted to
Princess of Wales and if you wanted to
Princess of Wales and if you wanted to go to draw princess I think she gorgeous
go to draw princess I think she gorgeous
go to draw princess I think she gorgeous just like that the tiny bodies tiny ways
just like that the tiny bodies tiny ways
just like that the tiny bodies tiny ways to knit great big skirt married to the
to knit great big skirt married to the
to knit great big skirt married to the Prince of Wales in 1981 in one of the
Prince of Wales in 1981 in one of the
Prince of Wales in 1981 in one of the most lavish and most-watched television
most lavish and most-watched television
most lavish and most-watched television events in history
events in history
events in history Diana became one of the first accessible
Diana became one of the first accessible
Diana became one of the first accessible members of the royal family labeled by
members of the royal family labeled by
members of the royal family labeled by some as the world’s most photographed
some as the world’s most photographed
some as the world’s most photographed woman she couldn’t move anywhere without
woman she couldn’t move anywhere without
woman she couldn’t move anywhere without a lens within feet of her face diana was
a lens within feet of her face diana was
a lens within feet of her face diana was charismatic kind-hearted and elegant all
charismatic kind-hearted and elegant all
charismatic kind-hearted and elegant all of which made her the focus of intense
of which made her the focus of intense
of which made her the focus of intense media scrutiny across the globe
media scrutiny across the globe
media scrutiny across the globe Princess Diana met children with kidney
Princess Diana met children with kidney
Princess Diana met children with kidney failure who are dependent on machines
failure who are dependent on machines
failure who are dependent on machines although that interest ultimately
although that interest ultimately
although that interest ultimately contributed to her untimely death she
contributed to her untimely death she
contributed to her untimely death she left behind a legacy of compassion and
left behind a legacy of compassion and
left behind a legacy of compassion and contributions to humanitarian aid
contributions to humanitarian aid
contributions to humanitarian aid efforts combating landmines homelessness
efforts combating landmines homelessness
efforts combating landmines homelessness and hiv/aids she truly was the people’s
and hiv/aids she truly was the people’s
and hiv/aids she truly was the people’s princess I think the biggest disease
princess I think the biggest disease
princess I think the biggest disease this world suffers from in this day and
this world suffers from in this day and
this world suffers from in this day and age is a disease of people feeling
age is a disease of people feeling
age is a disease of people feeling unloved and I know that I can give love
unloved and I know that I can give love
unloved and I know that I can give love for a minute for half an hour for a day
for a minute for half an hour for a day
for a minute for half an hour for a day for a month but I can give I’m very
for a month but I can give I’m very
for a month but I can give I’m very happy to do that and I want to do that
happy to do that and I want to do that
happy to do that and I want to do that number three
number three
number three William Shakespeare to be or not to be
William Shakespeare to be or not to be
William Shakespeare to be or not to be that is the Bard of Avon perhaps no
that is the Bard of Avon perhaps no
that is the Bard of Avon perhaps no other Britons shaped the English
other Britons shaped the English
other Britons shaped the English language and culture as significantly as
language and culture as significantly as
language and culture as significantly as Shakespeare contributing thousands of
Shakespeare contributing thousands of
Shakespeare contributing thousands of new words to the English language the
new words to the English language the
new words to the English language the legendary poet playwright and actor
legendary poet playwright and actor
legendary poet playwright and actor described roughly thirty eight plays and
described roughly thirty eight plays and
described roughly thirty eight plays and 154 sonnets other no stones in heaven
154 sonnets other no stones in heaven
154 sonnets other no stones in heaven but what’s his tales remain relevant to
but what’s his tales remain relevant to
but what’s his tales remain relevant to this day as they not only impacted
this day as they not only impacted
this day as they not only impacted English society but also revealed the
English society but also revealed the
English society but also revealed the timeless and universal condition of
timeless and universal condition of
timeless and universal condition of mankind and its folly
something which speaks not only to
something which speaks not only to British culture but which translates to
British culture but which translates to
British culture but which translates to all languages and cultures as Victor
all languages and cultures as Victor
all languages and cultures as Victor Hugo once said England has two books the
Hugo once said England has two books the
Hugo once said England has two books the Bible and Shakespeare that English may
Bible and Shakespeare that English may
Bible and Shakespeare that English may as French French Englishmen receive each
as French French Englishmen receive each
as French French Englishmen receive each other God speak this amen
other God speak this amen
other God speak this amen number two the Beatles
the British Invasion made many musicians
the British Invasion made many musicians world famous and while Mick Jagger and
world famous and while Mick Jagger and
world famous and while Mick Jagger and his fellow Rolling Stones are absolute
his fellow Rolling Stones are absolute
his fellow Rolling Stones are absolute British icons no act sold more records
British icons no act sold more records
British icons no act sold more records earned more number ones and elicited
earned more number ones and elicited
earned more number ones and elicited more teenage screams than the Beatles
these four moptops boys from Liverpool
these four moptops boys from Liverpool hold numerous records and honours not
hold numerous records and honours not
hold numerous records and honours not the least of which is the unofficial
the least of which is the unofficial
the least of which is the unofficial title of most influential band in the
title of most influential band in the
title of most influential band in the world ever together as the Fab Four John
world ever together as the Fab Four John
world ever together as the Fab Four John Lennon Paul McCartney George Harrison
Lennon Paul McCartney George Harrison
Lennon Paul McCartney George Harrison and Ringo Starr changed the face of
and Ringo Starr changed the face of
and Ringo Starr changed the face of music forever helping to bring
music forever helping to bring
music forever helping to bring rock-and-roll to the mainstream and
rock-and-roll to the mainstream and
rock-and-roll to the mainstream and becoming the best-selling band in
becoming the best-selling band in
becoming the best-selling band in history in the process
before we crown our top pick here are
before we crown our top pick here are some honorable mentions those among the
some honorable mentions those among the
some honorable mentions those among the most important is that I am a Puritan
most important is that I am a Puritan
most important is that I am a Puritan that I am a believer in the visual and
that I am a believer in the visual and
that I am a believer in the visual and that’s what I think that schools should
that’s what I think that schools should
that’s what I think that schools should teach
Henry the eighth’s the tyrant king he
Henry the eighth’s the tyrant king he was brutal he was ruthless he was
was brutal he was ruthless he was
was brutal he was ruthless he was probably the most selfish King we’ve
probably the most selfish King we’ve
probably the most selfish King we’ve ever had she produced fiction which had
ever had she produced fiction which had
ever had she produced fiction which had a sort of a self possession and a
a sort of a self possession and a
a sort of a self possession and a technical audacity which was
technical audacity which was
technical audacity which was unparalleled anywhere else in Europe
unparalleled anywhere else in Europe
unparalleled anywhere else in Europe number one Sir Winston Churchill the
number one Sir Winston Churchill the
number one Sir Winston Churchill the beginning of the beginning our top spot
beginning of the beginning our top spot
beginning of the beginning our top spot goes to the British bulldog himself an
goes to the British bulldog himself an
goes to the British bulldog himself an officer in the British Army a career
officer in the British Army a career
officer in the British Army a career politician historian and a Nobel Prize
politician historian and a Nobel Prize
politician historian and a Nobel Prize winning author Churchill aided in the
winning author Churchill aided in the
winning author Churchill aided in the defeat of Hitler during World War two
defeat of Hitler during World War two
defeat of Hitler during World War two we shall fight in the fields and helped
we shall fight in the fields and helped
we shall fight in the fields and helped popularize the peace sign or in his case
popularize the peace sign or in his case
popularize the peace sign or in his case the V for victory sign and was named
the V for victory sign and was named
the V for victory sign and was named Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1940
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1940
Time Magazine’s Man of the Year in 1940 and there man of the half-century in
and there man of the half-century in
and there man of the half-century in 1949 I think he always felt he would win
1949 I think he always felt he would win
1949 I think he always felt he would win though still a flawed hero this wartime
though still a flawed hero this wartime
though still a flawed hero this wartime Prime Minister was considered one of the
Prime Minister was considered one of the
Prime Minister was considered one of the best orders in modern times and one of
best orders in modern times and one of
best orders in modern times and one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century
the greatest leaders of the 20th century
the greatest leaders of the 20th century in the day the British and American
in the day the British and American
in the day the British and American people will for their own safety and for
people will for their own safety and for
people will for their own safety and for the good of all walk together in majesty
the good of all walk together in majesty
the good of all walk together in majesty injustice and
injustice and
injustice and do you agree with our list I don’t
do you agree with our list I don’t
do you agree with our list I don’t really think so which Brit do you think
really think so which Brit do you think
really think so which Brit do you think is the most iconic for more jolly good
is the most iconic for more jolly good
is the most iconic for more jolly good top 10s published every day be sure to
top 10s published every day be sure to
top 10s published every day be sure to subscribe to watchmojo.com until then
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subscribe to watchmojo.com until then from all of the BBC team at Buckingham
from all of the BBC team at Buckingham
from all of the BBC team at Buckingham Palace thank you for watching and good
Palace thank you for watching and good
Palace thank you for watching and good night
”
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