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Daily Mirror

Entertainment

Andrew Young

Martin Lewis and David Attenborough top list of favourite celebrities for Prime Minister

David Attenborough Martin Lewis Stephen Fry Alison Hammond Dame Judi Dench Channel 4 Marcus Rashford

Brits have named the top celebrities they would vote for as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom – with financial guru Martin Lewis coming out as the frontrunner.

A poll of 2,000 adults found 44 per cent would happily vote for a celebrity to become PM – with national treasures David Attenborough and Stephen Fry taking second and third places in the popularity list.

Other names among the top 30 who Brits feel would be well-suited to the job include Dames Judi Dench and Helen Mirren, and England footballer Marcus Rashford.

The top traits people would like to see in the leader of the country are honesty and trustworthiness – but they should also be down to earth, with a sense of humour.

And a third think the Prime Minister should be compassionate – as well as unbiased (23 per cent) and hardworking (36 per cent).

Nearly half of Brits would be happy to vote for a celebrity to be Prime Minister (PinPep)

The research was commissioned by Channel 4 ahead of the launch on Tuesday, September 27, of new show “Make Me Prime Minister” – in which contestants will battle it out in a series of political challenges.

It also emerged 29 per cent think they would make a good local councillor, and the same percentage think they would excel in the top job.

Nearly one in four (24 per cent) have considered a career in politics, with a quarter of those interested in being the party leader.

Economists, political assistants, and campaign managers were other political roles Brits have considered.

The research also found 38 per cent have got into an argument with someone with an opposing political view – with two-thirds (65 per cent) saying it is important to get their views heard.

And 29 per cent have campaigned for issues that matter to them, while the same percentage have written to their MP, and 32% have attended a demonstration.

Racism, climate change, sexual harassment, and domestic abuse were among the most common causes to be spoken up about.

So it’s no surprise that nearly a quarter (23 per cent) would run for PM now if they had the chance.

The study found half of those polled, via OnePoll, will certainly be voting in the next general election, and the same number voted in the previous one.

But just 35 per cent have only ever voted for the same political party.

Contestants on new Channel 4 show 'Make Me Prime Minister' have 'real political talent', says Alistair Campbell (PinPep)

Parents, partners, and friends are the most likely to influence a Brit’s vote – but one in six (16 per cent) don’t have any external influence.

The research comes after Channel 4 toured the country with a replica of the famous No. 10 Downing Street door and lectern, to find out what Brits would do if they were PM.

Alastair Campbell, who is featured in “Make Me Prime Minister”, said: “The contestants in the show are not the only ones who think politics is in a mess and that they could do the job better than Boris Johnson or Liz Truss.

“But I think they learned that the job is a lot harder than it looks.

“Some of them, without doubt, have real political talent and I hope they go into politics.

“They will also be pleased by the poll findings that people want our PM to have integrity, and be trustworthy and honest. So should we all.”