It's a Sin creator and Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies has been named as one of the country's most influential creatives of the past 50 years. The Bafta and Royal Television Society winner, who has recently re-joined Doctor Who after reviving it in 2005, came in third place behind David Bowie and director Steve McQueen in the new list compiled for Sky Arts by a panel of esteemed experts from across the arts industry.
A team of expert judges across music, film & TV, performing arts, literature and visual arts were challenged to create the list by TV channel Sky Arts in a celebration of British artists past and present and their influence on global culture. The 15-person judging panel, led by DJ, presenter and author Lauren Laverne, included MOBO Awards founder Kanya King CBE, acclaimed writer Bonnie Greer, film critic, Ali Plumb and esteemed theatre critic Lyn Gardner.
Davies, who is from Swansea, has recently reboarded the BBC sci-fi show which is filming currently and will star Sex Education's Ncuti Gatwa as the Time Lord, taking over from Jodie Whittaker. The role comes after the high-profile success of Channel 4 drama, It's a Sin, which gained awards and nominations after bowling over audiences with its telling of the Aids epidemic in the 1980s from the point of view of a group of friends in London.
The 59-year-old also created TV shows Queer As Folk, Years & Years, Torchwood and Cucumber and recently launched a scathing attack on the government over its plans to sell off Channel 4.
Pipping Russell to the top spot were David Bowie and Oscar-nominated director Steve McQueen, whose work includes 12 Years a Slave and Shame. Bowie was named most influential by judges as they commended his influence across the industry and ability to transcend a variety of mediums including music, film and fashion.
To celebrate David Bowie topping the list, Sky Arts commissioned Joe Black, a critically acclaimed mixed media artist from London, to create a unique artwork of the legendary musician using guitar plectrums. Each plectrum features a cut out shape to symbolise all the artistic disciplines Bowie influenced, from music and film to art, performance and poetry.
Speaking about leading the judging conversations to help determine the Top 50 list, Chair of Judges Lauren Laverne, said: “I was honoured to be chosen to take part in this judging day for Sky Arts, as working with such a respected group of judges I knew their conversations would be fascinating… and they were.
“The judges took so much time and care with their scoring to ensure the Top 50, Top 20 and Top 10 lists were truly the best of the best in terms of influence, and the final list are artists that are so deserving of their places.
“David Bowie coming in at number one was the cherry on top of a brilliant judging process, and it was great to be a part of it.”
Phil Edgar-Jones, Director of Sky Arts, said: “Sky Arts would not exist without incredible British talent fuelling our schedules, so to celebrate we wanted to recognise the influence these artists have had on our culture. It’s a rich list headed up by David Bowie and we wanted to honour him in a way that would be fitting to the scale of his influence. The artwork created by Joe Black honours the way that Bowie’s influence transcends genres in a fittingly innovative and imaginative way.”
Britain's top 10 most influential artists of the last 50 years are:
- David Bowie – prolific songwriter, performer and actor, known for songs including Heroes, Life on Mars and Space Oddity
- Sir Steve McQueen CBE – award-winning film and TV director, producer, writer and artist whose work includes 12 Years a Slave and Small Axe in film and Year 3 in art
- Russell T Davies OBE – TV screenwriter and producer, known for bringing Doctor Who to the masses and penning award-winning series It’s A Sin
- Dame Vivienne Westwood – iconic fashion designer and pioneer of British punk culture since the 1970s
- Caryl Churchill – leading playwright of over thirty plays including Top Girls, Cloud 9, and Far Away
- Michael Clark – Scottish dancer and choreographer who commissions for major international dance companies
- Angela Carter – feminist powerhouse, writer of The Bloody Chamber, Nights at the Circus and Wise Children
- Stormzy – multi-award winning rapper and political activist, known for songs including Shut Up, Vossi Bop and Big For Your Boots
- Muriel Spark – acclaimed novelist known for works including The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and Memento Mori
- Michaela Coel – multi-award winning actress, writer and director known for Chewing Gum and I May Destroy You
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