Who Would Britain Most Like To Have Breakfast With? 007, That's Who

Former James Bond actor Sean Connery has come top in a poll asking Britain's women who they would most like to have breakfast with.

What's more, he also rates highly with many of Britain's men, maybe because they admire his slick 007 image? In fact, only brainy TV presenter Carol Vorderman proved more popular among men!

These are the results of a MORI poll commissioned by The Cancer Research Campaign and Kellogg's All-Bran to highlight Britain Biggest All-Day Breakfast on Friday 26 February, an event to raise awareness of the evidence that those with diets rich in cereal fibre have a lower tendency to develop bowel cancer and to help raise funds for vital bowel cancer research.

The poll revealed more women would rather have breakfast with 68 year old Connery, than ER heart-throb George Clooney, more than 30 years his junior, or pop group Boyzone.

Overall, Sir Cliff Richard is also a popular choice of breakfast companion, especially among the over 45s. HRH Prince Charles and PM Tony Blair didn't fair too badly either, pipping footballers David Beckham and Michael Owen to the post and coming ahead of veteran sex-symbol Tom Jones.

Britain's men chose TV presenter Carol Vorderman as the woman with whom they would most like to share a bowl of cereal, narrowly beating film star Catherine Zeta Jones and supermodel Caprice. Former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell didn't fair too well, polling less votes than Changing Room's Carol Smilie, comediennes Dawn French and Victoria Wood or actress Raquel Welch.

Carol Vorderman said: "I'm really surprised that so many people voted for me. I wonder whether people would be quite so keen to have breakfast with me if they could see me first thing in the morning, not a pretty sight!

"Britain's Biggest All-Day Breakfast is a brilliant idea and I shall be taking part by joining The Cancer Research Campaign for breakfast on Friday. It's a great way to raise awareness of bowel cancer and to generate funds for bowel cancer research."

There was good news for Britain's families with the vast majority of those surveyed saying they ate breakfast at home.

Cereal came out tops as the most popular breakfast food, with many people opting for a healthy start to the day. However, 9% of men voted for the traditional fried breakfast of eggs, bacon and sausages to start their day, proving that despite healthy eating messages, old habits die hard. This compared to only 3% of women, who are more likely to opt for a healthy high fibre cereal.

The Cancer Research Campaign's Director General Professor Gordon McVie says: "Having Sean Connery or Carol Vorderman as a breakfast date would clearly be a dream come true for many of us. But, if you want to really make a difference on February 26, why not make a date with The Cancer Research Campaign and Kellogg's All-Bran instead and take part in Britain's Biggest All-Day Breakfast. You'll be helping us to fight bowel cancer and you'll do yourself some good too."

Thousands of people nationwide are expected to take part in Britain's Biggest All-Day Breakfast by hosting breakfast parties for family, friends and colleagues on the same day. If you'd like to take part, call the Breakfast Hotline on 01372-807 8000.

Notes to Editors:

• Bowel cancer is the 2nd biggest killer cancer in the UK.
• 31,000 new cases of the disease are diagnosed each year in the UK.
• 18,000 people die of bowel cancer each year in the UK (48 per day).
• There is evidence that those with diets rich in cereal fibre have a lower tendency to develop bowel cancer.
• The risk of bowel cancer could be cut by up to a third by eating a high fibre diet.
• A single serving of Kellogg's All-Bran, gives you half of your daily fibre needs.
• Other fibre rich foods include: wholemeal bread, bananas, dried apricots, brown rice, jacket potatoes , broccoli, cabbage, peas.

Technical details

MORI interviewed a representative quota sample of 2051 adults aged 15 plus in 163 sampling points in Great Britain between 9-11 January 1999. The data has been weighted to reflect the national population profile.