LISTENERS to BBC radio were yesterday subjected to the gloomiest bits of a new survey by the National Centre for Social Research.
It revealed we are fed-up with politicians and economic turbulence.
But NatCen’s deputy chief Gillian Prior also said: “There is still a great deal of national pride.”
Mike Ridley presents the ultimate A-Z of the things that make Britain brilliant.
A
14
Armed Forces: Numbers may have dropped to less than 150,000 but our servicemen and women are incredible.
Angel of the North: Antony Gormley’s sculpture is an institution.
Adele: One of pop’s biggest-selling artists.
Alton Towers: Britain’s biggest theme park is a thriller.
Royal Ascot: Still the sport of kings.
Arthur’s Seat: Landmark of Edinburgh.
Aston Martin: 007’s favourite sports car.
B
14
Beer: Britain has 2,200 breweries.
Blackpool Tower, Big Ben and Buckingham Palace: Just three iconic landmarks.
Beatles: Four lads from Liverpool who changed music for ever.
Beefeaters: Symbol of the Tower of London. Black pudding, black cabs.
Bonfire Night: Remember 5th of November.
Bagpipes, Bakewell tart and the Beckhams.
C
Coronation Street: UK’s longest-running TV soap.
Clarkson: Sun columnist Jezza is a living legend.
Curry: Especially British invention chicken tikka masala.
Cheddar cheese and Cumberland sausage: Two delicacies.
Chelsea Pensioners: The boys of the old brigade make us so proud.
Crumpets: Toasted on an open fire.
Cycling great Mark Cavendish.
D
14
Double decker buses: They are all over the world.
David Attenborough: The King of wildlife.
Doctor Who: Still with us after 60 years.
Deep-fried Mars bar: A Scottish sensation.
Dennis the Menace: Beano’s best-loved cartoon.
Day Of The Jackal: So good they are making a new TV version.
Darts: Including teen sensation Luke Littler.
Downton: Everyone is Abbey to watch.
Digestive biscuits: Dunking lovely.
E
14
EastEnders: The Queen Vic of soaps.
England’s Lions and Lionesses: They keep doing us proud.
Eros: Our symbol of love.
Idris Elba: Gone from Hackney to Hollywood.
F
Football: From the Prem to the SFL, it is our obsession.
Fish and chips: Superb food combo.
Fry-up: Full English, Scottish and Ulster fry.
G
14
Grand National: Unrivalled racing.
Glastonbury: Unrivalled music.
Gravy: Perfect with your Sunday roast.
Gavin & Stacey: Great to see them back this Christmas.
Granny Smith apples: Crunchy delight.
Ricky Gervais: Britain’s funniest southerner.
H
14
Humour: We’re funnier than any other nation.
Harry Potter: Made into eight movies.
Holidays for £9.50: Sun’s bargain breaks can’t be beaten.
Lewis Hamilton: F1 hero.
HP Sauce and Hobnobs: Kitchen classics.
I
Integration: Latest report says Britain is more diverse than ten years ago.
Inventions: From the steam engine to the first mass-produced toothbrush, we are brilliant at ideas.
J
14
Dame Judi Dench: Best M ever.
Jane Austen: Gave the world Mr Darcy.
Jude Bellingham: Breathing new life into the Three Lions.
K
14
King Charles III: Doing brilliantly despite illness.
KitKats: Four fingers of delight invented in Yorkshire in 1935.
Kilts: The King and Scots love them.
Peter Kay: Britain’s best-loved northern comic.
Keely Hodgkinson: New Queen of the track.
Knitting: Diver Tom Daley proved it’s not just for your gran.
L
Lake District: Visitors fall in love with its beauty.
Lottery: 30 years of making millionaires.
Line Of Duty: Top telly.
Lollipop ladies: Keeping kids safe.
Land’s End and John O’Groats: Both worth journey.
London Eye: Capital’s big wheel.
M
Mutts: We love our dogs — 13 million of ’em.
Sir Ian McKellen: Our Lord Of The Rings.
Marmalade: Toast is not the same without it.
Mini: Driving force in car industry for 65 years.
N
14
NHS: For all its problems, it is our saviour in times of trouble.
Nessie: Millions believe in her.
O
Oasis: Fight for tickets shows they are No1.
007: Suave spy is global icon.
Oak trees: 170million of them.
Olympic heroes of Team GB and Paralympics.
P
14
Parliament: The mother of democracy.
Paddington Bear: Character has spawned films and TV series.
Red phone boxes: Still around in days of mobiles.
Poppies: Raising £45million a year for veterans.
Adam Peaty: Swimmer still fighting for medals. And where would we be without pubs, politeness and pasties?
Q
14
Queues: Sign of a civilised country.
PMQs: The world tunes in.
Queen Camilla: She has been the King’s rock.
R
Royal Family: Fans all over the globe.
Rain: We love to moan about it.
Roast beef: The French envy us — that’s why they call Brits Le Rosbif.
Rich Tea biscuits: Every cuppa needs one.
Rolls-Royce: The world’s most envied motor.
S
14
The Sun: The best paper and news website on the planet.
Strictly Come Dancing: Hit show has spawned countless foreign versions.
Seaside resorts from Skegness to Southend: We love ’em — and building sandcastles.
Shakespeare: The best bard none.
Sandwich: Especially egg and cress.
Spitfire: Saved Britain 85 years ago.
Scouse: The food.
Snowdon (now named Yr Wyddfa): Especially the summit café.
Stonehenge: Still a mystery.
The Shard: At 1,016ft, our tallest ’scraper.
Spotted Dick: Great name for a great pud.
Scones: Is it cream or jam first?
T
Tea: Our national drink.
Tower Bridge: London landmark.
Terry’s Chocolate Orange: Unwrap and have a ball.
Television: Invented here.
Trooping The Colour: What better way to mark the monarch’s birthday?
U
14
Ulster: Home of Game Of Thrones and Titanic.
London Underground: World’s first.
Umbrellas for our unpredictable weather.
V
Villages: Picture postcard places.
VE Day: Held in May.
Vacuum cleaner: British invention.
W
Winston Churchill: Wartime hero.
Weather: Talking about it.
Welsh Cakes: Principality scones.
Wallace and Gromit: One man and his dog.
Wembley: Top for footie and music acts.
West End shows: Unforgettable nights out.
Mr Whippy: Especially the 99.
Where’s Wally: Kids love to hunt for him.
Kate Winslet: Oscar winner.
Wimbledon: Home of Andy Murray.
White cliffs of Dover: immortalised in song by Vera Lynn.
X
X-rated: Our great tradition of swearing.
X Factor: Pop talent show gave us Harry Styles, One Direction, Olly Murs, Rylan Clark, Little Mix and Stacey Solomon.
Y
Yorkshire puds: Aunt Bessie’s sell 600million of them a year.
Z
14
Zany traditions: From black pudding throwing champs to bog snorkelling.
London Zoo: World’s first.
Zipwire: The fastest on earth is in North Wales.
