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TV's 50 Greatest Stars was a one-off British television awards show which invited the viewing public to vote for their favourite on-screen stars from a list compiled by the broadcaster ITV.[1] Fifty actors, actresses, presenters and comedians, both alive and dead, were featured on the list, the number 50 being chosen to coincide with ITV's fiftieth birthday celebrations in September 2005 (although technically, there were 55 individuals on the list, due to partnerships such as The Two Ronnies and Richard and Judy being counted as one entry).[2]

The two-hour show, directed by Mark Robinson,[3] was hosted by Coronation Street actor Bradley Walsh, who ran through the stars in reverse order.[4] The order was determined by the public, who could vote, either online or in the TV Times,[5] for five (no more and no fewer) of their favourite celebrities.[6] Members of the public could also nominate other television celebrities who had not been included on the list.[7]

Actor David Jason won, with Morecambe and Wise and John Thaw coming in second and third place respectively; the majority of nominees were comedians, a fifth were deceased and men outnumbered women by almost five to one.[2][4] Walsh was quoted as saying "I'm delighted to be involved in this show. It will be a great celebration of some of the most fantastic stars from the last 50 years. It will be interesting to see who the viewers vote to come out on top."[5] The show was narrated by Mel Giedroyc.[8]

Results

[edit]
The results of the public vote for TV's 50 Greatest Stars
Rank Name Description
1 David Jason Actor; well known for several roles including Open All Hours, Derek "Del Boy" Trotter in the BBC comedy series Only Fools and Horses, and Detective Inspector Jack Frost in the ITV crime drama A Touch of Frost.[9]
2 Morecambe and Wise Comic double act; worked in variety, radio, film but especially famous for The Morecambe and Wise Show.[10]
3 John Thaw Actor; appeared in many television programmes including Redcap, The Sweeney, Home to Roost, Kavanagh QC but most notably the titular role in Inspector Morse.[11]
4 Julie Walters Actress; has won multiple BAFTAs and other awards for her work in a large number of films and TV shows including Mamma Mia (film) Harry Potter and Educating Rita.[12]
5 Bruce Forsyth Presenter and entertainer; the current holder of the world record for the longest television career for a male entertainer,[13] known for on The Generation Game, Play Your Cards Right, The Price Is Right and Strictly Come Dancing amongst others.[14]
6 The Two Ronnies A comedy duo; known primarily for their sketch show The Two Ronnies.[15]
7 Ant & Dec Comedy and presenting duo; host such shows as I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain's Got Talent.[16]
8 David Attenborough Naturalist and broadcaster; best known for his nine Life series of nature documentaries.[17]
9 Stephen Fry Comedian, presenter and actor; host of QI and half of the comic double act Fry and Laurie amongst many other things.[18]
10 Victoria Wood Comedian, actress; notable for Victoria Wood: As Seen on TV, Housewife, 49 and Dinnerladies amongst other works.[19]
11 Robbie Coltrane Actor and comedian; starred in the television series Cracker and received the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor in three consecutive years (1994 to 1996), and film appearances include roles in Harry Potter and James Bond.[20]
12 Peter Kay Comedian; the current world record holder for the most successful comedy tour.[21]
13 French and Saunders Comic double act; their eponymous television show consisted of spoofs and satire of popular culture, films, celebrities and art.[22]
14 Michael Palin Comedian, actor and presenter; known primarily for Monty Python (appearing in some of the most famous sketches), Ripping Yarns amongst other things.[23]
15 Tommy Cooper Comedian and magician who specialised in prop comedy, a member of the Magic Circle, also famous for his trademark red fez.[24]
16 Billy Connolly Comedian, actor; has appeared in a wide range of television shows. His films include Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties, The Man Who Sued God, and The X-Files: I Want to Believe.[25]
17 Benny Hill Comedian, actor; most notable for his long-running television show The Benny Hill Show.[26]
18 Lenny Henry Comedian, actor and presenter; co-founded charity Comic Relief.[27]
19 Jeremy Clarkson Broadcaster; best known for presenting motoring show Top Gear.[28]
20 Michael Parkinson Broadcaster; known most for his long-running talk show Parkinson; The Guardian described him as "the great British talkshow host".[29]
21 Terry Wogan Broadcaster; had the most listened to radio show in Europe (Wake Up to Wogan), but has also presented Children in Need and a chat show Wogan.[30]
22 Tony Hancock Comedian, actor; had the popular comedy show Hancock's Half Hour amongst other things.[31]
23 David Frost Comedian, host and personality; hosted That Was the Week That Was, Frost Over the World, Breakfast with Frost and Through the Keyhole.[32]
24 Bob Monkhouse Comedian, actor, host; presented many different shows including The National Lottery, The Bob Monkhouse Show and Family Fortunes.[33]
25 Rolf Harris Comedian, entertainer/television personality; presented shows such as Animal Hospital and Rolf's Cartoon Club,[34][35]
26 Noel Edmonds Presenter; has presented a wide range of television shows from Top of the Pops, Top Gear, Juke Box Jury, The Late, Late Breakfast Show, The Noel Edmonds Saturday Roadshow, Telly Addicts and Noel's House Party.[36]
27 Joanna Lumley Actress, voice-over artist; has appeared in a range of films from The Wolf of Wall Street to On Her Majesty's Secret Service and James and the Giant Peach.[37]
28 Simon Cowell Reality television judge; a talent judge on Pop Idol, The X Factor and Britain's Got Talent.[38]
29 Helen Mirren Actress; has won many accolades for her work in television and films, such as Prime Suspect (receiving three consecutive British Academy Television Awards for Best Actress between 1992 and 1994), and The Madness of King George and The Queen.[39]
30 Ricky Gervais Comedian, actor; known for The Office, Derek and The Ricky Gervais Show amongst many other things.[40]
31 Trevor McDonald Newsreader, journalist; famous for ITV News at Ten and Tonight with Trevor McDonald.[41]
32 Les Dawson Comedian; remembered for his deadpan style and jokes about his mother-in-law and wife.[42]
33 Martin Clunes Actor; known mostly for his roles in Doc Martin and Men Behaving Badly.[43]
34 Jamie Oliver Celebrity chef; known for many shows which promote healthy eating and attempting to combat child obesity through his work on school dinners.[44]
35 Robson Green Actor, presenter; known for Soldier Soldier, Casualty and Wire in the Blood.[45][46]
36 Cilla Black Broadcaster; has presented such shows as Blind Date, Surprise Surprise and The Moment of Truth.[47]
37 Caroline Quentin Actress; known for her work on Men Behaving Badly, Jonathan Creek and presenting Restoration Home amongst other projects.[48]
38 Chris Tarrant Broadcaster; best known for presenting Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? between 1998 and 2014.[49]
39 Peter Cook Actor, comedian; a satirist who specialised in anti-establishment comedy.[50][51]
40 Des Lynam Broadcaster; has presented mainly (but not exclusively – e.g. Countdown) sport programmes like Grandstand, Match of the Day, Wimbledon, The Grand National, Sportsnight.[52]
41 Leonard Rossiter Actor, most notable for his roles in comedies Rising Damp and The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin.[53]
42 Alan Whicker Journalist, presenter; known primarily for Whicker's World amongst other projects.[2]
43 Sarah Lancashire Actress; a regular in Coronation Street, along with roles in films such as Where the Heart Is and in other television shows such as Last Tango in Halifax.[54]
44 Richard and Judy Presenters; a married couple who have presented both This Morning and later the chat show Richard & Judy.[55]
45 Kenny Everett Comedian, DJ; best known for his radio work and the television show The Kenny Everett Video Show.[56]
46 Anne Robinson Presenter, journalist; known mostly for her work on Watchdog and as the acerbic hostess of The Weakest Link where she earned the nickname the "Queen of Mean".[57]
47 Steve Coogan Actor, comedian; known for his character Alan Partridge which has spawned many television series and a film, but also for his film work such as The Parole Officer.[58]
48 William Roache Known for the long-term character Ken Barlow in the soap opera Coronation Street.[59]
49 Rory Bremner Comedian; an impressionist and satirist known for his work on Mock the Week and his sketch show Bremner, Bird and Fortune.[60]
50 Alan Titchmarsh Broadcaster, gardener; known for his gardening programming such as Gardeners' World and Ground Force, along with presenting other genres of programming such as Songs of Praise.[61]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "ITV to salute '50 greatest stars'". BBC News. BBC Online. 3 July 2006. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  2. ^ a b c "Broadcaster Alan Whicker dies at 87". BBC News. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 12 July 2013.
  3. ^ "Bradley Walsh: Biography". DAA Management. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  4. ^ a b Walsh, Bradley. "TV's 50 Greatest Stars". bradleywalsh.co.uk. Archived from the original on 7 April 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  5. ^ a b "ITV names UK's 50 greatest stars". The Yorkshire Post. 3 July 2006. Archived from the original on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  6. ^ "Vote Now". www.tvs50greateststars.co.uk. Archived from the original on 12 August 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  7. ^ "Home". www.tvs50greateststars.co.uk/. Archived from the original on 19 August 2006. Retrieved 17 August 2014.
  8. ^ "TV'S 50 GREATEST STARS (TV'S 50 GREATEST STARS PART ONE)". ITN. ITN Source. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
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  11. ^ "John Thaw: Forever Morse". BBC News. BBC Online. 21 February 2002. Retrieved 9 August 2014.
  12. ^ "Julie Walters' best film performances – ranked!". The Guardian. Retrieved 30 October 2020.
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  29. ^ Simon Hattenstone (24 February 2012). "Saturday interview: Michael Parkinson | From". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 3 June 2012.
  30. ^ "Wogan’s run – the King of banter finally goes blankety blank" By Kim Bielenberg, Saturday 12 September 2009, Irish Independent
  31. ^ Plunkett, John (27 July 2012). "London 2012 Olympics: Tony Hancock show to be re-broadcast". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  32. ^ "Sir David Frost, broadcaster and writer, dies at 74". BBC. 1 September 2013. Retrieved 1 September 2013.
  33. ^ Barker, Dennis (30 December 2003). "Bob Monkhouse". The Guardian. Retrieved 11 August 2014.
  34. ^ Penrose, Justin (19 July 2014). "Rolf Harris fast-tracked to cushy prison unit and dodges tough Wandsworth jail". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
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  37. ^ "Joanna Lumley". Dundee Rep. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  38. ^ "Simon Cowell Biography". The Biography Channel UK / A&E Networks. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 24 September 2013.
  39. ^ Balfour, Brad (26 December 2010) "Oscar-winning Dame Helen Mirren Stirs The Tempest & Makes Us See Red This Season". The Huffington Post. Retrieved 5 November 2012
  40. ^ "Channel 4 recommission Ricky Gervais's Derek – News – British Comedy Guide". Comedy.co.uk. 4 March 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2014.
  41. ^ "Sir Trevor reads final bulletin". BBC News. 15 December 2005. Retrieved 20 May 2009.
  42. ^ McGrath, Nick (29 September 2012). "Looking after Les Dawson's legacy". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 10 September 2013.
  43. ^ "Telly talk: Clunes enjoys affairs of the heart". Manchester Evening News. 16 February 2007.
  44. ^ "Jamie Oliver awarded top honour by Royal College of GPs". Royal College of GPs. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  45. ^ "Robson Green live on Breakfast". BBC News. BBC Online. 4 December 2002. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  46. ^ "Famous cadets". Air Training Corps. Archived from the original on 11 October 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  47. ^ "Cilla Black to host BBC game show". BBC News. BBC Online. 14 March 2004. Retrieved 20 December 2008.
  48. ^ "Spotlight on... Caroline Quentin". Western Mail. 4 May 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2014. Early life: Born Caroline Jones in Reigate, Surrey, on July 11, 1960.
  49. ^ "'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?' to end after 15 years". Digital Spy. 22 October 2013.
  50. ^ Lezard, Nicholas (3 June 2014). "One Leg Too Few: The Adventures of Peter Cook and Dudley Moore – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  51. ^ Hind, John (18 November 2012). "Margaritas with Peter Cook". The Observer. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  52. ^ "Biography: Des Lynam". Speakers Corner. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  53. ^ "Leonard Rossiter Biography (1926–1984)". filmreference.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  54. ^ Robinson, Samantha (20 May 2014). "Happy Valley: Spotlight on Sarah Lancashire". Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 21 May 2014.
  55. ^ "Early exit for Richard and Judy". BBC News. BBC Online. 8 May 2009. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  56. ^ "Obituary:Kenny Everett", The Independent, 5 April 1995. Retrieved 27 July 2010
  57. ^ "Life of TV's 'Queen of Mean'". BBC News. BBC Online. 26 September 2004. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  58. ^ Clark, Ashley (4 June 2014). "Not quite 'Jurassic Park': Steve Coogan on film". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  59. ^ "William Roache free to rebuild career". BBC News. 6 February 2014. Retrieved 7 February 2014.
  60. ^ Hall, James (1 January 2013). "Rory Bremner attacks BBC's Mock the Week". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  61. ^ "Alan Titchmarsh – Biography". The Biography Channel. Archived from the original on 27 December 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
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