What living Brit is worthy of a state funeral when they die?

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a_wee_ghostie@reddit

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MaggieSmith_49@reddit

Have you consulted Scotland on that statement

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jar_jar_LYNX@reddit

I'm Scottish and I'm telling you that as a UK citizen, Connolly is British

I didn't know this but if true then it really is an ironic outcome to their claim.

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eighteenseventy2@reddit

Even if scotland was an Independent country, not part of the union. He would still be Scottish and British because scotland is still part of the island of Britain, geographically.

It doesn't matter that I consider myself Scottish and not British, to anyone else, factually I am both.

(Until we figure out a way to seperate the land at the border and float away, somewhere warmer hopefully)

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Southern-Ad4477@reddit

Mate, he is literally a Knight of the Realm (of the United Kingdom).

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lockinber@reddit

Because he is Scottish so therefore he is also British. For example I am English but also British. In the UK we have several ways of describing our nationality.

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Brickscrap@reddit

You can be pro-Scotland, pro-indy, anti-UK etc, but even if for example Scotland left the UK, we'd still all be British, because Scotland is a part of Great Britain. It's a geographical construction, not a physical one.

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Grimdotdotdot@reddit

Sir Billy Connolly, CBE?

LeastInsurance8578@reddit

Definitely worthy and I’d add Stephen Fry as well

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PorFavorNoMore@reddit

What, as some sort of sacrificial tribute?

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Theroosterami@reddit

Was going to say this, glad to see it as one of the top comments. Absolute legend.

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fundytech@reddit

David Attenborough and rowan Atkinson

I mean you can easily tell this from his interviews. Even though he doesn't do anything bad on camera, you can kinda tell he's sick of people and is snooty

Anxious-Association7@reddit

Statement of a not so famous person like James Acaster 🤣 Even his ex picked Rowan Atkinson over him

"Mirren first visited Israel in 1967 after the Six Day War and volunteered on Kibbutz HaOn next to the Sea of Galilee. She also hitchhiked around the country.

“I witnessed things that were wrong,” she said of her visit. “I saw Arabs being thrown out of their houses in Jerusalem. But it was just the extraordinary magical energy of a country just beginning to put its roots in the ground. It was an amazing time to be here.”

Hmm.

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SoSpeaksGalactus@reddit

To be fair, I volunteered at a kibbutz as a wide-eyed and naive 19 year old (I am now 53). It was experiencing first hand the casual racism aimed at Israeli Arabs (who I was working with) and the hideous attitude towards the Palestinians that shaped the strongly held views I still hold today. Had I not volunteered, I never would have visited the “occupied territories” and seen Israel’s brutality for myself.

Clarkson, but only if May and Hammond have to have some sort of self-build / race to St. Paul's. Possibly via the Thames ?

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HotPotatoWithCheese@reddit

and probably the only people I can think of in the entire country that everybody loves and nobody hates.

Rowan Atkinson is Mr Bean, and Mr Bean is a cultural icon.

Across the world people know Mr Bean. You dont need to speak English to enjoy it.

I went travelling, in the most remote places you'd get "The Beatles" "The Queen" "Mr Bean"

My personal theory is David Attenborough is actually God, and he's showing us all these things he made!

I think we revere the Oxford lot more than enough already.

Let us have some normal people.

Patric Stewart? Ian McKellen?

Are we also forgetting Sean Bean?

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ParticulateSplatter@reddit

Cleese has also proved to be a massive bellend, so he shouldn't be anywhere near one

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Reasonable-Key9235@reddit

In your opinion, I disagree

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Proud_Cookie@reddit

Wasn't Rowan Atkinson one who said female newsreaders / presenters should retire at 40 as no one wants to see old women on TV?

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_Daftest_@reddit

Rowan Atkinson?

I mean he's a good actor and comedian but...oh wait.....you're not British are you?

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Significant-Cry-8442@reddit

Rowan Atkinson is a raving zionist

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fundytech@reddit

Got any sources to back what you’re saying

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Hill42h@reddit

Should've done Frankie Boyle's suggestion and given Scots the money to dig a hole all the way down to hell.

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ZiroLeHutt@reddit

The only thing Frankie Boyle has ever said, that I agree with.

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Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit

Speaking as a Yorkshire woman, we'd have pitched it.

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hattorihanzo5@reddit

Over a million quid on sending Margaret Thatcher off. That could have done some actual good.

It did do some good. It proved she was dead.

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Fancy-Professor-7113@reddit

To be fair you'd think driving a stake through her heart and cutting her head off would've been enough though.

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NoIndependent9192@reddit

Tom Baker.

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ZiroLeHutt@reddit

With a loudspeaker on his coffin shouting "I AM THE BENDU!!!"

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Ambitious_Damage_214@reddit

Charles III.

BusyBeeBridgette@reddit

The last Chuckle Brother.

You know you want to say it when you see the coffin being carried.

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ZiroLeHutt@reddit

Deserving of a state funeral more than most.

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Bantabury97@reddit

"To me.. to you.. No slackin'!"

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f1boogie@reddit

You know, its a real shame. Because "No Slacking" was Paul and Barry's older brother, and never really got much coverage when he died.

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selfinflatedforeskin@reddit

When the one died，I had a dream where the other one was sitting in a sofa chair in a living room.

He sad ‘to me’ and then there was just silence，and then he started crying.

Dunno why I dreamt that，or remembered it after waking.

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ProcrastibationKing@reddit

That's an incredibly sad image.

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DoctorOctagonapus@reddit

Mock The Week made a similar joke not long after as well.

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selfinflatedforeskin@reddit

Not seen it，but my dream wasn't funny.

It’s 2126, eternal brother chuckle has been on the throne for 86 years. It is the oh dear time.

HugeElephantEars@reddit

Ozzy was the Prince of darkness.

Disrespectful of the palace not to at least fly flags at half mast honestly.

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BacupBhoy@reddit

He was also an animal killer.

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Agreed 💯

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Due_Resolution2634@reddit

Did he regret staying wed to that hateful hag of a wife he had.

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PorFavorNoMore@reddit

And of course the royals aren't into that

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Daveddozey@reddit

Vast majority are not vegetarian

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Obvious-Water569@reddit

His family don't deserve that, even if you think he does (I don't think he does).

Particularly Sharon. Fuck that sentient medical research skeleton.

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Werthead@reddit

David Attenborough is a lock-in.

I think Judi Dench and maybe Helen Mirren, as two of our greatest actors, might be worthy and have widespread support, especially Dame Judi.

i do like him i just don't think anyone deserve what a state funeral is. and like i said, would he even want one? he seems pretty normal and maybe wouldn't like the fuss. something like what they did for his 100th birthday where it's a celebration of his life that he actually gets to see is way better.

Rubbish - democracy doesn't mean that everyone is equally good.

He gets up, a little shakily and waves his hand at everyone and there's an almighty cheer. Someone might have shouted "Brian's alive!" He sits on the edge of the stage for a little while then just walks off.

I can't find anything to suggest that Attenborough sees overpopulation in Africa and Asia as the main factor in human damage to the environment. It's plain to realise that harmful emissions have likely done the most damage. I don't see Attenborough denying that emissions are the biggest factor. Moreover, he doesn't ignore Western over-consumption. In 2020, he said we should 'curb excess capitalism' in the West and live more economically for the environment's sake. In the same year, he also criticised the waste of resources, saying 'The world is not a fruit bowl from which we can just take whatever we wish.'

I think you fail to realise that Attenborough's argument IS still about consumption, just taking into account the consequences of consumption. He's not against human beings but population growth. There is a point at which you must concede that growth is unsustainable or otherwise more harmful than beneficial--every ecosystem has its limits. Attenborough just happens to think we've already reached that point, and is looking to see where population growth is happening. Asia and Africa are already the continents with the most people, and are the main continents where population growth is concentrated. By comparison, much of Europe and North America isn't even growing enough to replace those who die.

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kishmishari@reddit

Attenborough only mention consumption after being repeatedly called out for his racism. And he still pushes his racist views.

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DemonicBrit1993@reddit

Sir David Attenborough and Sir David Jason

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JollyPhysics1394@reddit

Rich people should pay for their own funerals, not the taxpayer.

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Own-Maintenance-8943@reddit

It's obviously David Attenborough. Dude was my childhood hero. Now that I'm an adult, he's my adulthood hero.

2011: Convicted of assault (headbutting) at an English Defence League (EDL) rally; received a suspended sentence.2013: Sentenced to 10 months in prison for travelling on a false identity document (using a friend's passport) to bypass a travel ban and enter the United States.

2014: Sentenced to 18 months in prison for conspiring to commit mortgage fraud, following misrepresentations made to Abbey and Halifax banks

2017: Found guilty of contempt of court for prejudicing a trial at Canterbury Crown Court; sentenced to three months in prison (suspended for 18 months).

2018–2019: Jailed for 9 months for contempt of court after live-streaming on Facebook outside Leeds Crown Court during a grooming gang trial, which risked sabotaging the legal proceedings.

2021: Lost a major high-court libel case and was ordered to pay £100,000 in damages and costs after making false allegations against a teenage Syrian refugee.

2021: Handed a five-year Stalking Protection Order following a stalking and harassment campaign directed at a journalist and her partner.

deHaga@reddit

Do you know why Edward Woodward has so many D's in his name?

Otherwise he'd just be Ewar Woowar

Unless for some reason he means the former Man United Ceo

terryjuicelawson@reddit

Is this Chris Rea but in non flying avian form?

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paradeoxy1@reddit

The only bird I see around here is the tit I've made of myself 😔

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nick_gadget@reddit

Too late, he died three days before Christmas last year.

I just wrote this too!!

myrealnameisboring@reddit

I live near him and see him regularly walking around town. He always has time for anyway who stops him to say hello and loves having a good chat with them. He just seems so insanely nice. So your love is very well placed.

reo_reborn@reddit

I was sad to find that out. Seems like he doesn't have many friends left on the inside of the business and plenty of rumors say he's the reason why they can't do a new Sherlock as bine if the cast like him

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Fufflewaffle@reddit

I went to a talk at the Palladium from Bob Odenkirk for his new book a few years ago. Martin Freeman is the guest he bought on to ask questions and talk with and he was so rude and unlikeable. It was like watching someone jab a golden retriever with a cattle prod. Bitchy, nasty, unkind, and you have to ask, for what? It's just awkward.

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fuseyuk@reddit

Rik Mayall (posthumously)

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Bob Holness

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Crunchie64@reddit

You’re going to dig him up just to bury him again?

Guy’s been dead a while.

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thebumlord@reddit

Amanda Holden.

The poor lass spent eight years noshing off Les Dennis trying to achieve relevance and fame.

It's the least we can do for her efforts.

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jsm97@reddit

Last time it wasn't a Royal or a politician was the Unknown Soldier - And if you don't know count him there was a couple of other military officers throughout the 19th century and if you only count a purely civilian background you have to go back to Isaac Newton. It would certainly be a huge break from precedent I can't really see them doing

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Fun-Communication660@reddit

I feel like bringing back state funerals for your Isaac Newton types does not feel like breaking precedent, but firmly setting it.

that claim needs some support

Anybody who's study world history for more than about 5 minutes already knows the answer. No it doesn't.

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Daveddozey@reddit

There are very few people pivotal in history. If Armstrong hadn’t landed on the moon someone else would. If bell hadn’t invented the phone someone else would. America would be discovered eventually. If Hitler hadn’t come to power someone else would, maybe more successfully, maybe less.

But Churchill does seem to be one. Without him we’d have had Halifax and appeasement of not outright surrender. Whether Stalin could have defeated Germany without the western front, or at least until Germany developed a nuclear bomb, is unclear

Most people are products of history. Some times though history is a product of a person.

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PurpleFirebird@reddit

I'm gonna try and remember that last line, because it's brilliant

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Azuras-Becky@reddit

Winston Churchill was a vile, drunk, misogynistic racist, but he was also an expert politician, a veteran soldier and military innovator from the previous war, a brilliant leader, and a deliverer of morale-boosting speeches that has never been matched. He's the wartime leader to which people compare all other wartime leaders for a reason.

I'm not one for counterfactuals, but it's probably not inaccurate to say that if Winston Churchill had decided to sit that one out, things would have gone much worse not just for Britain, but for the entire Western world.

That's not to say that he didn't fuck-up many more times than once, but of all the people who've ever received a state funeral, outside of people like Newton, Nelson, and the Duke of Wellington, there have been worse fecking recipients. Including nearly every royal and particularly Thatcher.

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WorcsBloke@reddit

Isaac Newton was a very unpleasant man. Arguably the hate is overdone a little, but for example when Robert Hooke said he deserved partial credit for one of Newton's discoveries, Newton vindictively removed Hooke's name from Principia Mathematica. He did something similar to John Flamsteed, and stole and published Flamsteed's astronomical notes before Flamsteed was ready to do so. I think Thatcher (the real version, not the comic-book villain) was a better person than Newton, and I'm certainly no fan of hers. I

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TheFlyingScotsman60@reddit

If he hadn't been in the right place, at the right time we'd all be speaking German.

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Corvid187@reddit

He kept Britain in the war by seeing off the attempt of Chamberlain's cabinet to install a pro-appeasement member as PM. He was also instrumental in getting the big three powers on side and cooperating with each other more or less. There's also the fluffier side of keeping morale up and 'selling' the allied effort to the UK and the world in the darkest period of the conflict.