These, along with the Iron Bridge, Winnie the Pooh, Rolls-Royce, cheddar cheese, narrowboats, the Peak District (all of it, apparently), the Thames, red telephone boxes, Mrs Beeton’s cookbook, Wimbledon tennis, Westminster Abbey, the robin, roses, the V-for-Victory sign, the English weather and the stiff upper lip, join the 53 previously announced as Icons of England.
Rather than contemplating on the absurdity of such a list (particularly since it includes swathes of English countryside and its climate – why not just nominate the whole country?), I’m just going to celebrate the inclusion of Doctor Who, which is now “officially” an English icon, despite having featured two Scottish Doctors and being made in Wales.
Perhaps the organisation should have chosen the phrase “British Icons” – much more appropriate đŸ˜‰
Yeah I’m not sure Doctor Who can be called an English icon to be honest – British icon yes but not so much English.
I’ve submitted Top Gear to the list – for a laugh to see what happens. Not very interestingly BBC Jersey ran a survey to find islanders top icon and the Jersey Cow won but was VERY closely followed by Bergerac.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/jersey/content/articles/2006/01/10/jersey_icon_feature.shtml
ICONS, the organisation commissioned to produce this project, were only funded to work on English icons. If a similar project focused on Wales or Scotland, there’d be nothing to stop them from also claiming Who as theirs.
Besides, there’s only been one Scottish Doctor. Tennant’s playing an English Doc.
Besides, there’s only been one Scottish Doctor. Tennant’s playing an English Doc. …and doesn’t that just hack me off… ah, Scottish accent…