Current and future national treasures

[scifisam]

I was thinking about who the future national treasures might be, then realised that first we need to define who the the current ones are.

To me it's people like David Attenborough, Billy Connolly, Judi Dench, Lenny Henry. British (plus occasional Irish and others if they mostly work over here)- who are really fucking old, known by most people, loved by a lot of people, and when you see their name in the news you're never certain if they've died or made something new and heart-warming/tragic.

Some current famous people in that age bracket don't quite fit it for some reason. Anthony Hopkins doesn't. I'm not sure Dawn French counts, but she might.

Then, for the future section: Noel Fielding is well on his way to future national treasure status, as is Graham Norton (even he's actually closer in age to Lenny Henry than Noel). Rylan will probably become one. Mel Giedroyc might do too.

 

[yield]

Current - Michael Caine, Future - Michael Sheen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brendan Gleeson

 

[scifisam]

Current - Michael Caine, Future - Michael Sheen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brendan Gleeson

Caine! Hmm, think he'd count.

Michael Sheen will definitely count. Ejiofor - not sure. Fantastic actor, someone I will watch if he's in a movie, but not that well known.

 

[scifisam]

Current - Michael Caine, Future - Michael Sheen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brendan Gleeson

Caine! Hmm, think he'd count.

Michael Sheen will definitely count. Ejiofor - not sure. Fantastic actor, someone I will watch if he's in a movie, but not that well known.

 

[scifisam]

Current - Michael Caine, Future - Michael Sheen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brendan Gleeson

Caine! Hmm, think he'd count.

Michael Sheen will definitely count. Ejiofor - not sure. Fantastic actor, someone I will watch if he's in a movie, but not that well known.

 

[scifisam]

Current - Michael Caine, Future - Michael Sheen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brendan Gleeson

Caine! Hmm, think he'd count.

Michael Sheen will definitely count. Ejiofor - not sure. Fantastic actor, someone I will watch if he's in a movie, but not that well known.

 

[scifisam]

Current - Michael Caine, Future - Michael Sheen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Brendan Gleeson

Caine! Hmm, think he'd count.

Michael Sheen will definitely count. Ejiofor - not sure. Fantastic actor, someone I will watch if he's in a movie, but not that well known.

 

[danski]

scifisam what do reckon about Michael Caine though?

 

[quimcunx]

Joanna Lumley?

 

[SpookyFrank]

Like fuck Anthony Hopkins doesn't count.

 

[scifisam]

Like fuck Anthony Hopkins doesn't count.

He's an amazing actor, but that's not what it takes to be a national treasure. They're different things.

Joanna Lumley?

I think so, for current ones - she seemed to be basically aiming for it, and then sorta fucked it up.

 

[Humberto]

Dara O'Briain the big foreign atheist.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

He's an amazing actor, but that's not what it takes to be a national treasure. They're different things.

He's also a US citizen now.

Paul McCartney, Judi Dench and David Attenborough would be today's dead certs, I think. JK Rowling's probably buggered her chances.

I agree that Billy Connolly probably qualifies now as well, although he irritates me nowadays.

 

[Steel Icarus]

Kathy Burke
Bob Mortimer
Ian Wright

 

[littlebabyjesus]

Kathy Burke
Bob Mortimer
Ian Wright

Yes, good call, especially Kathy Burke.

How old do you have to be to be a national treasure?

 

[Zapp Brannigan]

Ian McKellen and Patrick Stewart. When their time is up, a vacancy to be filled by Michael Sheen and David Tennant, or possibly Bob Mortimer and Paul Whitehouse. There's just something so endearing and national treasure-like about an aging bromance.

Kathy Burke for me is another, although I would concede that she may not pass the "universally liked" part - the right might not so readily agree to a fabulous gobshite.

Judi Dench is a shoo-in, as is of course David Attenborough.

 

[WouldBe]

Caine! Hmm, think he'd count.

Michael Sheen will definitely count. Ejiofor - not sure. Fantastic actor, someone I will watch if he's in a movie, but not that well known.

You can't bump them up by voting for them 5 times.

 

[cesare]

Ian McKellen

Edit, just seen that Zapp has suggested

 

[scifisam]

Kathy Burke
Bob Mortimer
Ian Wright

You get it! They are perfect future/almost there already suggestions.

littlebabyjesus - Paul McCartney doesn't count. He's TOO big, but it's not not just that.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

You get it! They are perfect future/almost there already suggestions.

littlebabyjesus - Paul McCartney doesn't count. He's TOO big, but it's not not just that.

He does that 'I'm just a normal bloke' thing. Although does that count as trying too hard? Mate of mine knows him a bit and says he does try to be treated normally. I think it's genuine. He sent his kids to state schools, which is pretty rare for millionaire pop stars.

 

[scifisam]

Dara O'Briain the big foreign atheist.

Possibly. He's not done much for a while. He was definitely en route to be the uncle that taught you biology and not in that way but then he kinda vanished. Maybe he's just enjoying a life with money and a reasonable level of fame.

There's still time for him to get to treasurehood when he restarts his career.

 

[Humberto]

Think it can be posthumous and non-universal. Shane MacGowen, Paul O'Grady. Lack of women candidate suggestions from me I know.

 

[Humberto]

Possibly. He's not done much for a while. He was definitely en route to be the uncle that taught you biology and not in that way but then he kinda vanished. Maybe he's just enjoying a life with money and a reasonable level of fame.

There's still time for him to get to treasurehood when he restarts his career.

If I may 'au contraire' you for a moment
His 2022 'So Where We?' stand up show shouldn't be missed if you have any interest.

Dara O Briain - So Where Were We?

Dara O Briain’s award-winning 2022 stand up show, recorded live at Dublin’s Vicar Street.

www.bbc.co.uk

 

[Humberto]

Also proper killed it on Taskmaster a while back.

 

[Sue]

Miriam Margolyes (current)?

Tom Holland (future)?

 

[scifisam]

He does that 'I'm just a normal bloke' thing. Although does that count as trying too hard? Mate of mine knows him a bit and says he does try to be treated normally. I think it's genuine. He sent his kids to state schools, which is pretty rare for millionaire pop stars.

It's not that. I think he deserves huge accolades, even from people who dislike the Beatles.

It's just a different thing. Being a national treasure is not "being a fantastic person." It's something... comforting. Not unchallenging - David Attenborough would fail at that

It's like how, out of Mel and Sue, they're both lovely people with similar careers, but Mel will be the national treasure.

 

[bluescreen]

Lenny Henry
Tanni Grey-Thompson
Peter White
Stephen Fry wants to be but definitely isn't, imo.
Ian Hislop in danger of becoming though he'd be horrified (hence in danger).

 

[littlebabyjesus]

It's not that. I think he deserves huge accolades, even from people who dislike the Beatles.

It's just a different thing. Being a national treasure is not "being a fantastic person." It's something... comforting. Not unchallenging - David Attenborough would fail at that

It's like how, out of Mel and Sue, they're both lovely people with similar careers, but Mel will be the national treasure.

Fair enough.

A few good suggestions so far. I'd add Michael Rosen.

 

[Humberto]

Sorry to pick on a nonegenarian but it's a firm no from me for David Attenborough.

 

[scifisam]

Fair enough.

A few good suggestions so far. I'd add Michael Rosen.

Ooh. good pick.