Gentlemen Prefer Politicians!

Tony Tops The Polls As UK's Most Admired Man

Prime Minister Tony Blair has been awarded the title of UK's Most Admired Man according to results suggested in the 1999 Teacher's Most Admired Man Survey, published today.

The report produced by Teacher's Scotch Whisky in conjunction with MORI On-Line surveyed over 1,000 men from across the UK to discover which UK male personalities they most admired and why.

Pulling off an impressive coup for British politics, Tony Blair appears to be the overall favourite and no less than five British politicians made an appearance in the final top ten, more than entertainers, sportsmen and businessmen. Yet despite his overwhelming popularity as many as 37% of men thought that Tony Blair lacked the courage to make his own decisions.

Coming close in second place, Branson's attempts to break the round the world balloon record seemed to have impressed the British male public, who voted him ahead of Prince Charles who came in third place in the poll. Recently retired Liberal MP Paddy Ashdown also performed well as did ex-Prime Minister John Major.

Although determination was suggested as the most admirable quality overall, "honesty" was the most admired characteristic amongst politicians. Younger men (aged 25-44 years) disagreed with their older colleagues who through honesty far more admirable them determination - a viewpoint which may be said to come with experience.

Although football is generally though of as the nation's favourite game, in a photo finish it appears that 100m Olympic Gold Medallist Linford Christie has grabbed the gold again, with his success in world class athletics earning him title of "UK's Most Admired Sportsman" Linford narrowly beat fellow sportsmen Alex Ferguson, David Coulthard, and Michael Owen to take the honourable title, even though he has now retired from the international athletics circuit.

Amongst British most admired entertainers, Scotland and Wales did well, with former James Bond star Sean Connery, and Oscar Winner Anthony Hopkins leaping into first and second place.

His venture into organic farming also scored marks with UK men, as Prince Charles was voted the second most Admired Businessmen, beaten by Richard Branson. Other admired businessman include Andrew Lloyd Webber, Formula One Tycoon Bernie Ecclestone and Restaurateur Terence Conran.

However, it was fatherhood which made a real mark on men, with 55% of people respecting their father more than any public figure, and most men stating that "Becoming a father was the event in their life that made a man out of them."

Dr Davis Lewis consultant psychologist commented, "The importance of fathers in shaping their son's character is often understated but it is something that anyone can demonstrate - for this reason it is more likely to be viewed as a character trait which is both admirable fundamental, it seems that the key to being admired is good old fashioned true grid."

Other results include:

• Prince Charles is popular across the nation with 64% agreeing that he is a "good bloke"
• Women also did well in business with 88% of men stating that women were determined enough to be successful in business
• The recent spate of celebrity marital misdemeanours does not appear to have rubbed off on UK men - 83% believe that extra-marital affairs are wrong, however, this leaves as many as one in ten men thinking they were acceptable
• Driving proved to be a sensitive subject with over a third of men agreeing that women have more common sense than men when in the driving seat
• In the real world experience more than education is the most important thing - with 84% of men agreeing that it is more valuable than a university degree.

The Teacher's Most Admired Man Survey - a survey all about character and how we measure to Teacher's Scotch Whisky 'measure of character' takes an in-depth look at Britain's Most Admired Men and the characteristic which generate this admiration Teacher's Scotch Whisky has initiated this research in order to more ? understand the mindset of the male, still the predominant consume of whisky.

Technical details

MORI On-Line interviewed 1,005 men resident in the UK aged 25 or over by telephone between the 8th and 16th February 1999.